Listeria Outbreak Linked to Spartanburg County Business Results in Infant Fatality

A recent listeria outbreak linked to a business in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has resulted in the death of an infant and raised concerns nationwide, health officials report. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. have been recalled. The recall is due to these products testing positive for listeria, a harmful bacterium.

FSIS officials announced that all ready-to-eat products produced by Yu Shang Food before October 28, 2024, are subject to this recall. The recalled items bear the establishment number «P-46684» or «EST. M46684» in the USDA mark of inspection and have been distributed to retail locations across the country. Affected states include California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.

The recall was issued following routine testing by FSIS on October 21, which detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported illnesses associated with the contaminated products in several states, and though confirmed reports indicate at least ten people have been affected, officials fear the actual number could be higher.

Tragically, health officials have confirmed the death of twin infants in California, although only one death has been directly linked to the outbreak at this time. Yu Shang Food’s primary resellers include GW Supermarket, Hongkong Supermarket, Marina Supermarket, and 99 Ranch Market, according to the company’s website.

As a precaution, FSIS urges consumers to discard or return any products that may still be in their refrigerators or freezers. Additionally, surfaces and containers that have come into contact with the contaminated foods should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent the spread of listeria, which can cause serious illness.

This incident adds to a series of recent food contamination events. Earlier this year, a separate listeria outbreak, linked to Boar's Head deli meats, resulted in ten fatalities. Other cases of foodborne illness include an E. coli outbreak traced to slivered onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders and another linked to organic carrots from Grimmway Farms.

Medical experts advise that symptoms of listeria infection can vary but generally include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal disturbances. In severe cases, the infection can lead to complications such as convulsions and meningitis, particularly in pregnant women, newborns, elderly adults, and those with compromised immune systems.