Enoki mushrooms recalled in 2 states over listeria concerns

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Enoki mushrooms are being recalled in the U.S. due to concerns over possible contamination with listeria.
• The FDA announced that Green Day Produce, Inc. Enoki Mushrooms sold from Sept. 2022 to Oct. 2022 are being recalled since Nov. 17.
• CDC reported that at least two people, one in Nevada and one in Michigan, infected by the strain have been hospitalized since Nov. 15.

Green Day Produce has recalled packages of its enoki mushrooms that were sold nationwide in September and October because they could be contaminated with listeria.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that posted the recall alert on Thursday, the company’s enoki mushrooms, a product of Korea, were packaged in 200g, 7.05-ounce clear plastic packaging with the wording “Enoki Mushroom” on the front and Green Day Produce, Inc. on the back.

The UPC is 16430-69080 printed on the back side of the package. There is no lot code or dates on the package and the FDA and the California-based Green Day did not provide photos of the packaging.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. Healthy individuals could have short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea from listeria infections, which can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

At least two people, one in Nevada and one in Michigan, have been infected by the strain since November 15 and were hospitalized, CDC reported. The agency says the actual number of those infected is likely higher.

“This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria,” the CDC noted in its report. 

But listeria linked to enoki mushrooms has come to the attention of the CDC and the organization posted a warning page to its website after a 2020 outbreak.

Enoki mushrooms are popular in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean foods and are almost always eaten cooked in soups, hot pots, and stir-fried dishes, according to the CDC.

“Cook enoki mushrooms thoroughly to kill any foodborne germs,” the CDC posted as its investigators continue to identify specific brands of enoki mushrooms that may be contaminated with an outbreak strain of listeria.

The potential for contamination in this latest recall was discovered after a retail sample was collected and analyzed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

If you bought these 200g/7.05-ounce packages of enoki return them to the place of purchase for a full refund, the FDA said. Consumers with questions can contact Green Day at 323-587-4688 or email [email protected].

Source: Fox News