The FDA says that the Listeria monocytogenes enoki mushroom outbreak is over after sickening 36 people in 17 states. The outbreak was linked to the mushrooms from Green Co, LTD of the Republic of Korea. These mushrooms are also known as enokitake, golden needle, tutu, or lily mushrooms.
The case count by state is: Arizona (2), California (9), Florida (2), Hawaii (3), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (4), North Carolina (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (1), Virginia (3), and Washington (1). The illness onset dates ranged from November 3, 2016 to December 13, 2019. The age range of the patients is from less than 1 to 96 years. The four deaths included two from California, and one each from Hawaii and New Jersey. Six cases were pregnancy-related, with two ending in miscarriage or stillbirth.
Thirty-one people were hospitalized because they were so ill, which is a hospitalization rate of 84%. This high rate is typical of Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks, since the people who get sickest either are elderly or very young, have a chronic illness, or are pregnant women.
The illness onset date range seems very long, but that is typical in a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Often these illnesses are isolated and happen years apart if there is systemic contamination. Patients are discovered through PulseNet, a nationwide sub typing system of isolates taken from people who are sick with food poisoning. The isolates are identified using whole genome sequencing (WGS).
The companies that recalled their enoki mushrooms imported from Korea include Sun Hong Foods, Guan’s Mushroom Co, and H&C Food. Not all of these brands were linked to the outbreak.
You can contact food safety attorney Fred Pritzker for help if you have been sickened with food poisoning by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
The Sun Hong Foods enoki mushrooms were sold in J&L Supermarket, Jusgo Supermarket, ZTao Market, New Sang Supermarket, and Galleria Market stores in California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The Guan’s Mushroom Co mushrooms were sold to distributors and wholesalers in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. And the H&C Food Inc. enoki mushrooms were sold at Great Wall Supermarket stores in New York, Maryland, and Virginia. The mushrooms may have been distributed to other states and sent to more retailers.
If you have eaten enoki mushrooms from Korea and have been ill with the symptoms of listeriosis, see your doctor. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may feel mildly sick with what seems like the flu. You may be part of this Listeria monocytogenes enoki mushroom outbreak.
