Utopia Foods Enoki Mushrooms are being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The mushrooms were imported from China and sold nationwide in the United States. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of these mushrooms. The recalling firm is Utopia Foods of Glendale, New York. The recalled product is Utopia Foods Enoki Mushrooms that are packaged in 200 gram clear and blue plastic packages with the brand name "Utopia" on the front. The UPC number that is stamped on the label is 8928918610017. All Utopia branded Enoki mushrooms imported from China within expiry are included in this recall. The potential contamination was found in routine sampling conducted by the State of Missouri. The distribution of these mushrooms has been … [Read more...]
What Are the Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks?
What are the current food poisoning outbreaks in the United States? At this time there are four active outbreaks that are being investigated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. In total, these outbreaks have sickened at least 93 people and have hospitalized 33. The newest outbreak is the sapovirus outbreak linked to oysters that were harvested from a section of Galveston Bay in Texas. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, dozens of people who live in Texas and Florida are sickened in this outbreak. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Enoki mushrooms that were imported from Korea is ongoing. That outbreak has sickened two people from Nevada and Michigan; both were hospitalized. That … [Read more...]
What FDA Isn’t Saying About an Enoki Mushroom Listeria Recall
When a recent Listeria recall set off some alarm bells at Food Poisoning Bulletin a couple of weeks ago, we asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) how banned enoki mushrooms made their way to store shelves. The answer, it seems, is that the agency is still trying to work that out. A Problematic Recall The FDA doesn't like to use the term "banned," they told us. But a ban is the net effect when the FDA issues a countrywide import alert for a food product. This action means that the agency has gathered enough evidence to show that the product is in violation of FDA laws and regulations and can be detained at the border without physical inspection. In the case of enoki mushrooms from Korea, the evidence includes a 2020 Listeria outbreak in the U.S. that killed four people … [Read more...]
Enoki Mushrooms are the Most Recalled Food of 2022
With one month to go before the end of the year, there have already been 11 Listeria recalls for enoki mushrooms, making them the food most recalled for bacterial contamination in 2022. It wasn't a close contest. Any commodity vying for the distant second-place finish -cheese, leafy greens, ground beef, has had fewer than half as many recalls so far this year. And there's a decent chance that, before the year's end, there will be a 12th enoki mushroom recall. That's because no recall has been issued in connection with an ongoing enoki mushroom Listeria outbreak. Two years ago, a Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms from Korea sickened 36 people killing four of them. That outbreak was connected to three recalls and the origin of each one we've seen since. After the deadly … [Read more...]
FDA’s CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated to include more information about three of the current investigations. This table does not provide a lot of information about outbreaks. It just informs consumers that outbreaks have occurred. For the new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to imported enoki mushrooms, the CDC investigation notice has been added. The outbreak has sickened at least two people in two states; both have been hospitalized. Traceback has been initiated, and sample collection and analysis has also been initiated. For the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in an unidentified food, the case count has increased from 264 cases to 269 cases. Traceback was initiated and sample collection and analysis has begun. It's unusual that an outbreak this … [Read more...]
Expert Advice: Don’t Eat Enoki Mushrooms At This Time
Consumer Reports is offering expert advice on enoki mushrooms: Just don't eat them at this time. That type of mushroom is linked to a new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least two people in two states. Two years ago, a deadly Listeria outbreak was also linked to enoki mushrooms that were likely imported from Korea. At least 36 people in 17 states were sickened. Thirty-one people were hospitalized, four people died, and there were two fetal losses. That outbreak prompted the FDA, in July 2022, to issue a country-wide import alert for enoki mushrooms imported from the Republic of Korea. That allows officials to "detain without physical examination." FDA testing found that 43% of enoki mushrooms sampled from that country were contaminated with Listeria … [Read more...]
Did Banned Enoki Mushrooms Make Their Way to Store Shelves?
On November 17, Green Day Produce of Vernon, CA issued a Listeria recall for enoki mushrooms imported from Korea. But why were they on store shelves in the first place? Due to widespread problems with Listeria contamination in enoki mushrooms from Korea, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a countrywide import alert for them four months ago. This action essentially bans the import of all enoki mushrooms from the Republic of Korea. Companies seeking an exemption can submit documentation that the product has been tested and is pathogen-free, but even this does not guarantee that the product will be admitted to the U.S., according to the FDA website's information about import alerts. Firms that meet the criteria for exemption from an import alert are added to a "green … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak Linked to Enoki Mushrooms Sickens Two
A new Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least two people in two states are sick. The case count by state is: Michigan (1) and Nevada (1). The patient age range is from 30 to 42. Illness onset dates range from October 5, 2022 to October 8, 2022. Both patients have been hospitalized. And both reported eating enoki mushrooms or eating at restaurants that served items containing enoki mushrooms before they got sick. Whole genome sequencing conducted on patient isolates showed that they likely both got sick from eating the same product, since they are closely related genetically. And in November 2021, the FDA found Listeria monocytogenes in one sample of enoki mushrooms that were collected at … [Read more...]
Green Day Produce Enoki Mushrooms Recalled For Listeria
Green Day Produce enoki mushrooms are being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These mushrooms were imported from Korea. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of these mushrooms. The distribution of this product has been suspended. The recalling firm is Green Day Produce Inc. of Vernon, California. The recalled product is Green Day Produce enoki mushrooms that are packaged in a 200 gram (7.05 ounce) clear plastic package. The descriptor "Enoki Mushrooms" is on the front and Green Day Produce Inc. is on the back. The UPC number that is stamped on the back side of the package is 16430-69080. There are no lot codes or dates on this package. No picture of the product package was provided. The potential for contamination … [Read more...]
Enoki Mushrooms Recalled in Canada For Possible Listeria
Enoki mushrooms have been recalled in Canada for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalling firm is Goldenway Import and Export. The recalled product does not have a brand name. It is Enoki Mushrooms that are packaged in 200 gram (7.05 ounce) plastic bags. The UPC number that is printed on the label is 6 950319 388815. The codes on the package are YH22081713013 2022.10.31. The mushrooms were sold in British Columbia and Manitoba at the retail level, and may have been sold in other provinces and territories. This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. A food safety investigation has been launched. If you bought these mushrooms, do … [Read more...]
