A child has died in a listeria outbreak linked to a brand of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, federal officials said Friday.
On Friday, 11 people were infected in four states appearanceAccording to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among them, nine people have been hospitalized and one child in California has died, the CDC said.
The infections have been linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, according to the CDC. The recalled products include pork feet, chicken feet, pork feet, duck neck, beef tenderloin and pork tongue.
ABC News has reached out to Yu Shang Food for comment.
Yu Shang Food, Inc.’s label on a ready-to-eat product is part of a recall.
US Department of Agriculture
Most of the cases — seven — were in California, with two in Illinois and one each in New York and New Jersey, according to the CDC. Those infected ranged in age from 1 to 86, with an average of 64, according to the CDC.
The dead baby and the pregnant mother were both infected during the outbreak, According to the CDC. One twin of the children also died, although listeria was not found in the other twin’s sample and the case is not in the outbreak, the CDC said.
Another case of listeria was reported in a child who recovered, the CDC said.
“The actual number of patients in this outbreak is likely higher than reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known disease,” the CDC said.
Yu Shang Food has recalled approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible listeria contamination, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). he said on Thursday.
The recalled foods include products made before Oct. 28, the CDC said. The recalled products have the number “P-46684” or “EST”. M46684″ within the USDA inspection mark. They were shipped to retail locations nationwide and sold online.
Yu Shang Food, Inc.’s label on a ready-to-eat product is part of a recall.
US Department of Agriculture
A full list of recalled items can be viewed here. Anyone with the products is advised to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, and surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator at cooler temperatures and can easily contaminate other foods.
“FSIS is concerned that some of the product may be in consumers’ refrigerators/freezers,” the agency said.
FSIS said the problem was discovered when a finished food product produced by Yu Shang Food tested positive for listeria on October 21. Listeria was detected in additional testing of produce and environmental samples collected by FSIS, he said.
“Working with public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between Yu Shang Food, Inc.’s (ready-to-eat) meat and poultry products and a cluster of illnesses,” FSIS said.
The company originally released a call on November 9th that was widely circulated on Thursday.
People over the age of 65, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of serious illness from listeria, according to the CDC.
Symptoms usually begin within two weeks of eating listeria-contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures, according to the CDC.
CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.
