A listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from a South Carolina food processor has caused 11 illnesses in four states, with nine hospitalizations, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A woman who was pregnant with twins was also sickened. Both of the fetuses died, but listeria was found in a sample from only one.
The outbreak was traced to Yu Shang Food Inc, a Spartanburg-based company. Its products were shipped to retailers nationwide and were available online. A recall of 72,000lbs of meat and poultry products was issued because possible listeria contamination is in effect, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in an advisory.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria causes listeriosis, the third most common form of food poisoning, which can cause invasive intestinal illness and is considered dangerous to pregnant women, children and people over 65.
The CDC said seven listeria cases had been reported in California, two in Illinois, and one each in New York and New Jersey. Seven people said they shopped in person or online at markets where Yu Shang products were sold and two people said they ate Yu Shang ready-to-eat chicken.
“In California, one pregnant person and their twins were sick and both [fetuses] died,” the agency said. “Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin [fetuses], but it could not be found in a sample from the other [fetus]. Because of this, only the mother and one twin are included as confirmed cases in this outbreak. One other listeria illness was reported in a fetus who was sick and recovered.”
The company told CNN that although the woman reported eating the company’s products before she became ill, there was no proof that they were the cause.
But the FSIS determined that there was a link between the ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food Inc and the illness clusters.
The agency said it was concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators and freezers.
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” it said.
The listeria outbreak comes days after organic carrots were recalled after being found to be contaminated with E coli. The products, from Grimmway Farms and sold at Trader Joe’s, Wegmans and Target, were connected to 39 E coli infections, including 15 hospitalizations and one death.
On Wednesday, F&S Fresh Foods recalled two Whole Foods Market products – organic carrot sticks and a combo pack of organic carrot sticks and celery – produced by the same supplier.
