An outbreak of listeria linked to ready-to-eat meat products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. in South Carolina has resulted in the death of an infant and sickened 10 adults across four states. The affected individuals, including one person from New York and New Jersey, two from Illinois, and seven from California, all identified themselves as having Asian heritage. The infant who died was a twin, while the other twin and their pregnant mother were also sickened but recovered. Another unrelated infant also became ill but recovered. Listeria was found in samples from the mother and one twin, but not the other twin.
The outbreak was discovered during a routine inspection by USDA inspectors, leading to a recall of nearly two dozen varieties of prepared meat products produced at the plant. The recalled products include items such as braised pork belly and seasoned chicken quarter legs. The products were produced before Oct. 28 and marked with specific inspection hallmarks.
Exposure to listeria can be life-threatening, especially for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and diarrhea, and can be fatal for the elderly. Anyone with recalled products is advised to discard them, and to clean their freezers and refrigerators carefully to prevent further contamination.
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