A high-risk recall has been expanded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to include an additional 67,000 pounds of meat and poultry products.
Yu Shang Food, Inc., based in South Carolina, previously announced the recall of more than 4,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products on November 9, due to possible contamination with listeria bacteria.
However, on Thursday the recall was expanded 15-fold to involve a total of 72,000 pounds of meat products, including all within-date Yu Shang products produced before October 28, 2024.
This recall has been given FSIS's highest risk level, Class I, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines as "a situation in which there is reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
Listeria monocytogenes is a strain of bacteria that, when ingested, can cause listeriosis, a serious infection—particularly among older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant people and unborn or newborn babies.
Listeriosis can cause diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, headache, stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., infecting approximately 1,600 people, and killing 260 people, every year.
The potential contamination of Yu Shang produce was discovered in October, when FSIS's routine tests on Yu Shang's ready-to-eat meat and poultry products tested positive for listeria.
Further testing confirmed that listeria was detectable in samples of Yu Shang's products and from the environment where their food was produced.
Some people have reported feeling ill, in a cluster that might be connected to Yu Shang products, but this remains under investigation.
FSIS has advised that consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them but rather throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.
Anyone concerned about an illness that may be related to this recall should contact their healthcare provider for treatment.
Impacted products were shipped to retail stores nationwide and were available for purchase online.
The products' packaging bears establishment numbers "P-46684" or "EST.46684" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Consumers with questions can contact Ling Li, Yu Shang Food Inc. Plant Manager, via email at ling16099@yahoo.com or via telephone on 864-310-6313.
Newsweek has approached Yu Shang Food Inc. for comment via email.
Other unrelated recent recalls include chicken pasta that may be contaminated with listeria, carrots that may be contaminated with E. coli and supplements that contain hidden drugs.
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