Yu Shang Food Inc. Recalls Over 72,000 Pounds of Meat and Poultry Products Due to Listeria Contamination; Infant Death Reported
Yu Shang Food Inc., a Spartanburg-based company, has issued a recall of approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall follows a tragic incident where an infant in California died, and at least 10 other individuals across four states have been sickened in connection with the outbreak.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on November 21, 2024, expanding upon an initial recall from November 9, 2024. The affected products include items such as chicken feet, duck neck, beef shank, and pork hock, all produced before October 28, 2024. These products were distributed to retail locations nationwide and were also available for purchase online.
The contamination was discovered during routine FSIS testing in October, which detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in both the products and the production environment. As a result, Yu Shang Food Inc. has recalled all products bearing establishment numbers “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that among the 11 individuals affected, nine required hospitalization. The deceased infant was one of a pair of twins; while both infants died, only one tested positive for listeria. The cases have been reported in California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, with all affected individuals identifying as having Asian heritage.
Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled products and either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Additionally, it is recommended to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with these products to prevent cross-contamination.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection particularly dangerous for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms can range from mild, such as fever and muscle aches, to severe, including headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. In pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
This outbreak follows a recent listeria incident linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, which resulted in 10 deaths and 61 illnesses across 19 states earlier this year.
For more information on the recall and a complete list of affected products, consumers can visit the FSIS website or contact Yu Shang Food Inc. directly. Those experiencing symptoms of listeriosis after consuming the recalled products should seek medical attention promptly.
