A California an infant died and at least 10 other people fell ill during an outbreak of listeria Food poisoning linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, including chicken feet, duck neck, beef shank and pork shank, federal health officials reported Friday.
Yu Shang Food, Inc., of Spartanburg, South Carolina, has recalled more than 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products related to the outbreak, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some products were initially recalled on November 9.
The food was shipped to retail locations nationwide and available online, and illnesses were reported in four states. The problem was discovered in October after routine testing detected listeria in food and the production environment.
Of the 11 people who became ill, nine were hospitalized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said. A California woman pregnant with twins became ill and both infants died, the CDC said, but listeria was only found in a sample from one of the infants, so the child and mother were included in the count, but the other infant was. t.
Interviews with sick people and laboratory results highlighted Yu Shang Food products.
Although the foods have been recalled, some may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Refrigerators, containers and other surfaces that may have touched food should be cleaned and disinfected.
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People get listeria poisoning when they eat food contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms may be mild and include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious illnesses may include headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.
Listeria poisoning is tricky because symptoms can appear quickly, within hours or days after eating contaminated food. But they can also take weeks or even three months to appear. Those most vulnerable to the disease are the very young, people over 65, and those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.
Another listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meats has ended, CDC officials said this week. This epidemic killed 10 people this summer and sickened dozens more.