Mushroom Recall Alert: Potential Listeria Contamination Sparks Warning
On Friday, HH Fresh Trading Corp issued a recall for its Taiwan Enoki mushrooms due to possible listeria contamination. The California-based company announced the recall for products sold in West Virginia, distributed on August 20 and August 23, with 240 cases distributed on each date. These mushrooms were packaged in clear, 200-gram plastic bags marked with barcode #4711498860019 on the back.
While there have been no reported illnesses, consumers are advised to discard the mushrooms or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The potential contamination was identified following routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October, which detected Listeria monocytogenes. Production has been halted while HH Fresh Trading Corp and the FDA investigate the issue.
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Listeria is a resilient bacterium that can cause serious health issues, especially in pregnant women, the elderly, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the United States, resulting in about 1,600 cases and 260 fatalities each year. Symptoms of listeria infection can appear anywhere from within 24 hours to up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated food, including diarrhea, vomiting, and more severe complications.
This recall is the latest in a series of listeria-related food safety incidents this year. Previous recalls have included frozen waffles and breakfast products from TreeHouse Foods Inc., as well as a major recall of Boar’s Head deli meats and BrucePac’s meat and poultry products. The CDC reported that the listeria outbreak tied to the Boar’s Head recall has led to 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths.
