Second Infant Death Reported in Multistate Listeria Outbreak Linked to Recalled Meat Products
A second infant has tragically died in connection with a listeria outbreak spanning eight states, federal health officials confirmed.
The outbreak has been traced to recalled ready-to-eat meat and poultry meals from Yu Shang Food, which were sold both in stores and online across the country.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 19 confirmed cases of listeria infections, including 17 hospitalizations, across California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Tennessee.
At least seven cases involved pregnant women, highlighting the severe risks to mothers and infants. Among the fatalities, one occurred in Tennessee, where both a mother and her newborn were infected, leading to the infant’s death.
In California, a mother and her twin babies became ill, with one twin confirmed to have listeria and later passing away, while the other child succumbed to unrelated health complications.
Additionally, two unrelated infants and another pregnant woman contracted the infection but have since recovered.
The outbreak’s earliest case was recorded in October 2021, but most of the illnesses have been reported between December 2023 and October 2024. However, the CDC warns the true number of cases may be higher, as some individuals may have been infected but not tested.
In response to the outbreak, Yu Shang Food issued a recall in November for nearly 77,000 pounds of its contaminated products.
This incident follows another severe listeria outbreak earlier this year linked to Boar’s Head deli products, which caused at least 10 deaths and more than 60 infections across 19 states.
Listeria infections, though relatively rare, remain a significant public health concern. The CDC estimates approximately 1,600 cases occur annually in the U.S., resulting in over 250 deaths.
