United States: A baby in California has sadly died, and at least 10 other people got sick from a food poisoning outbreak caused by listeria. The sickness is linked to ready-to-eat meat products like chicken feet, duck neck, beef shank, and pork hock, according to health officials.
About 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products linked to the outbreak have been recalled by Yu Shang Food, Inc., of Spartanburg, South Carolina, the U.S. Agriculture Department. Some of those products were recalled Nov. 9.
As reported by the Medicalxpress, the foods were shipped to retailers nationwide and virtually, and illnesses are reported in four states. Tests in October had found listeria in the foods and the production environment, and the problem was discovered.
Nine of those 11 sickened people have been hospitalized, and they are all linked to that apartment, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said. They interviewed people sickened and found their laboratory findings pointed to Yu Shang Food products.
However, the foods, after being recalled, may be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. Discard or return the all the products to the place of purchase. Food should be normally cleaned and properly sanitized and refrigerators, containers and other surfaces that may have touched the foods should be cleaned and sanitized.
Listeria poisoning hits people who eat foods contaminated with the bacteria. They can include mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and more serious illness can occur.
Listeria poisoning is tough because it begins so fast, in as few as hours or days after eating contaminated food. However, they can also take weeks or up to three months to appear. People over 65, the young, anyone with a weakened immune system or who’s pregnant, are most at risk of becoming sick.
CDC officials this week said a different listeria outbreak tied to recalled Boar’s Head deli meats has ended. This summer, that outbreak killed 10 people and sickened dozens more.