Enoki Mushrooms Recalled in 6 States Due to Listeria Contamination

There is an active investigation on enoki mushrooms distributed by Utopia Produce in six states. The Qilu Enterprises brand mushrooms are being recalled due to the product testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Enoki mushrooms are long and thin white mushrooms, usually sold in bundles. They are widely used in East Asian cuisine and are also known as enokitake, golden needle, futu, seafood or lily mushrooms.

The six states affected by this current recall are New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and West Virginia. The impacted products named "enoki mushrooms" are packaged in 7.05-ounce plastic bags with UPC code 928918-610100. The packaging is marked with an expiration date labeled as “Exp: October 26, 2023.”

This is not the first time that these enoki mushrooms were recalled this year. The Food and Drug Administration announced a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms in January, later expanded in March. There was reports of five illnesses and hospitalizations in California, Nevada, New Jersey and Michigan connected to that outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of these cases reported eating enoki mushrooms or eating at restaurants with menu items containing enoki mushrooms, whereas the other case did not report eating enoki mushrooms but noted to have been "shopping at various Asian grocery stores."

Common symptoms for Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches and tiredness. Other symptoms include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or seizures in more extreme cases.

While Listeria is not typically life-threatening, it can be especially harmful if you are pregnant, age 65 or older or have a compromised immune system due to a medical condition or treatment. Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth and can cause life-threatening illness or death in newborns.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms after eating enoki mushrooms, call your health care provider as soon as possible. Listeria can survive at refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces, so carefully follow the FDA's safe handling and cleaning procedures if your kitchen may be contaminated.