11-23-2024 10:27pm

CDC warns of Listeria linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

Chris Edwards Editor

CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections has been posted at Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products | Listeria Infection | CDC.

Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

All products with "Yu Shang" (establishment number "P46684" or "EST. M46684") on the label.
Includes all products produced prior to October 28, 2024.

See recall notice for full product list.

Yu Shang Food, Inc., a Spartanburg, SC, establishment, is recalling approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products within their shelf life that may be adulterated withListeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This release is being reissued to expand the scope of the November 9, 2024, recall.

All ready-to-eat products produced prior to October 28, 2024, are subject to recall. View full product list. View labels.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and available for purchase online.

The problem was discovered after FSIS performed routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc. on October 21, 2024, that confirmed the product was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing has confirmed that Listeria monocytogenes was detected in product and in environmental samples collected by FSIS. Whole genome sequencing is underway to determine if these samples match the outbreak strain.

Working in conjunction with public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between the RTE meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. and an illness cluster.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators/freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify theircustomers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Key Points:

Eleven people infected with this outbreak strain Listeria have been reported from four states. Of the eleven people infected, nine people have been hospitalized. One person, an infant, has died in California.
Interviews with sick people and laboratory findings show that Yu-Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products are making people sick.
These items have been recalled, but some items may still be in people's refrigerators or freezers. Examples of recalled foods include pork hock, chicken feet, pork feet, duck neck, beef shank, and pork tongue. Questions about the recall should be directed to the USDA-FSIS.

What You Should Do:

Do not eat recalled products. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled foods. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms after eating recalled products.

What Businesses Should Do:

Do not sell or serve recalled products.
Follow FDA's safe handling and cleaning advice if you sold or served recalled products.

Listeria Symptoms:

Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
- o For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
- o For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
- o Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
- o People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.