CA Infant's Death Linked To Listeria In Ready-To-Eat Chicken

CALIFORNIA — A California infant has died and at least 10 others have been sickened in a multi-state listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products including chicken feet, duck neck and pork hock, federal officials said.

On Thursday, South Carolina-based Yu Shang Food Inc. recalled approximately 72,240 pounds of products tied to the listeria outbreak. The recall expanded on a previous one issued Nov. 9.

The affected items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and were available for purchase online. A full list of recalled items and labels are available online.

As of Nov. 22, 11 people have been sickened in states including California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, nine people were hospitalized.

In California, one pregnant person and their twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the infants, but it was not found in a sample from the other infant, health officials said.

"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses," the CDC said in a Friday update. "This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for listeria."

The outbreak is one of several linked to recently recalled products. This week, health officials said one person has died and more than three dozen others were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to organic whole and baby carrots. Last month, listeria concerns sparked a massive recall of frozen waffles and pancakes and nearly 12 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat products that were shipped to schools, grocery stores and restaurants.

A different listeria outbreak tied to recalled Boar’s Head deli meats has ended, CDC officials said this week. That outbreak killed 10 people this summer and sickened dozens of others.

Eating food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. People outside these risk groups are less affected.

Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, and are sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the products included in the Yu Shang recall were produced before Oct. 28 and bear the establishment numbers “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Health officials are concerned the products may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. The products should not be eaten, and consumers can either throw the items away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can send an email to ling16099@yahoo.com or contact Ling Li, Yu Shang Food Inc. plant manager, at 864-310-6313.