By the Numbers:

19 Sick

17 Hospitalized

8 States: California 10, Georgia 1, Illinois 2, Nevada 1, New Jersey 1, New York 1, Oregon 1, Tennessee 2

2 Deaths of Infants

Since the last update on November 22, 2024, eight new illnesses were reported from five states. These sick people were identified after food and environmental sampling found a second strain of Listeria. As of December 5, 2024, 19 people from eight states have been infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria. 

Sick people’s samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to October 28, 2024.

  • Of 19 people with information available, 17 (89%) have been hospitalized. 
  • Seven illnesses are related to pregnancy.
  • One person who was pregnant was sick and recovered.
  • Two unrelated infants were also sick and recovered.
  • In California, a mother and her twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin infants, but it could not be found in a sample from the other infant. Because of this, only the mother and one twin are included as confirmed cases in this outbreak.
  • In Tennessee, a mother and her infant were sick and her infant died.

On October 21, 2024, FSIS conducted routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product by Yu Shang Food, Inc. Testing confirmed that the product was contaminated with Listeria. WGS showed that the Listeria in the pork snout product is closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating foods produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc.

In response to the investigation, FSIS collected additional samples of product produced at Yu Shang Foods, Inc. and from the production environment. The Listeria found in those samples was related by WGS to the bacteria from eight other sick people in the PulseNet database and is different from the strain found in the pork snout sample and the 11 illnesses already included in the outbreak. These illnesses were combined into one investigation.

On November 9, 2024, Yu Shang Food, Inc recalled ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. On November 21, 2024, Yu Shang Food, Inc expanded their recall. CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled products.

  • All products with “Yu Shang” (establishment number “P46684” or “EST. M46684”) on the label.
  • Includes all products produced prior to October 28, 2024.

All Yu Shang ready-to-eat products produced before Oct. 28 are subject to recall. For a list of affected products, click here. Product labels can be viewed by clicking here. The products subject to recall have establishment number “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and are available for purchase online.  

Listeria:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Listeria outbreaks. The Listeria lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Listeria and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $900 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Listeria lawyers have litigated Listeria cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as lettuce, polony, deli meat, cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk.   

If you or a family member became ill with a Listeria infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Listeria attorneys for a free case evaluation.

Additional Resources:

William “Bill” Marler has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli Outbreak which was chronicled in the book, “Poisoned” and in the recent Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary by the same name. Bill work has been profiled in the New Yorker, “A Bug in the System;” the Seattle Times, “30 years after the deadly E. coli outbreak, A Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;” the Washington Post, “He helped make burgers safer, Now he is fighting food poisoning again;” and several others. 

Dozens of times a year Bill speaks to industry and government throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, China and Australia on why it is important to prevent foodborne illnesses.  He is also a frequent commentator on food litigation and food safety on Marler Blog. Bill is also the publisher of Food Safety News.