SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Officials have announced an expanded recall involving a South Carolina-based company's products suspected of being linked to a multi-state listeria outbreak that has already led to one death.
The recall impacts roughly 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Spartanburg-based Yu Shang Food, Inc. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 11 cases related to the products across four states. Nine people were hospitalized, and one person, an infant, has died.
California has reported the most confirmed illnesses (seven) and one confirmed death. However, Illinois, New Jersey and New York each have at least one confirmed case, and authorities believe there may be cases in states that haven't yet reported them. As of Friday evening, South Carolina had no known cases related to the recall.
The recall expands on one issued on Nov. 9. It impacts ready-to-eat products produced before Oct. 28. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the products have an "establishment number" of P-46684 or EST. M46684 in the USDA mark of inspection.
These recalled items include
- Japanese Chasu Pork Belly
- Braised Pork Belly In Brown Sauce
- Seasoned Pork Feet
- Seasoned Pork Hock
- Chinese Brand Spicy Duck Head
- Yushang Brand Cooked Chicken
- Chinese Brand Spicy Duck Neck
- Bazhen Seasoned Whole Chicken
- Chinese Brand Spicy Duck Tongues
- Chinese Brand Spicy Duck Wings
- Chinese Brand Chicken Feet
- Yushang Sausage Made with Pork and Chicken
- Seasoned Pork Tongues
- Seasoned Chicken Quarter Leg
- Braised Beef Shank
- Braised Chicken Szechuan Pepper Flavor
- Yu Shang Brand Cooked Pork Hock
- Seasoned Pork Snout Meat
- Spicy Pork Ear
- Spicy Chicken Gizzards
- Spicy Pork Feet Lambs Head Soup (frozen)
- Chinese Brand Spicy Chicken Feet
FSIS said it discovered the issue on Oct. 21 while performing a routine test and follow-up activities involving products created by Yu Shang Food. That's when the agency confirmed that the product had Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing also confirmed the findings in the product and environmental samples. Further testing matched it to the outbreak strain.
Anyone with a product impacted by the recall is urged to throw it away or bring it back to where it was bought. People should also clean any refrigerators, containers or surfaces that came into contact with the recalled food.
The CDC warns that listeria is particularly harmful to pregnant women and people 65 or older with weakened immune systems. Symptoms appear within two weeks and can range from fever to muscle aches and tiredness. However, the illness can also cause pregnancy loss, premature birth or other life-threatening conditions for newborns. In people with weakened immune systems or who are 65 or older, listeria can cause hospitalization or even death.
