The Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms imported from Korea has ended after sickening 36 people in 17 states. Four people died.
Listeria Recalls for Imported Enoki Mushrooms
Three U.S. companies issued recalls for enoki mushrooms in association with this outbreak. All of them received the mushrooms from the same Korean supplier, Green Co. LTD.
Sun Hong Foods
On March 9, Sun Hong Foods of Monetbello, CA, issued a Listeria recall for enoki mushrooms. The mushrooms were sold in 7.05-ounce clear plastic packages and marked with the UPC number 7 426852 625810. They were sold at stores in California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, and Texas at J&L Supermarket, Jusgo Supermarket, ZTao Market, New Sang Supermarket and Galleria Market stores.
Guan’s Mushroom Co.
On March 23, Guan’s Mushroom Co. of Commerce, CA issued a recall for enoki mushrooms imported from Korea. The recalled products were distributed to retail and wholesale stores in CA, NY, PA and sold in 200g/7.05-ounce-clear-plastic packages with “Enoki Mushroom” in English, Korean and French on the label. The UPC code: 859267007013 and package code 14-1 appear in the lower right corner.
H&C Foods
On April 7, H&C Food Inc. of Brooklyn issued a Listeria recall for enoki mushrooms imported from Korea. The recall was issued after genetic tests performed on samples of the mushrooms performed by the FDA were positive for the same strain of Listeria cultured from case-patients sickened in this outbreak. The recalled product was sold in 7.05 OZ (200G) clear plastic packages with the UPC#831211204181 and “H&C Food Inc.” on the label. They were sold at Great Wall Supermarkets in NY, MD and VA between February 15th, 2020 and March 5th, 2020.
Listeriosis Symptoms
Symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, include high fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Pregnant women are at heightened risk for Listeria as they are more likely than the general population to contract these infections and when they do they can experience premature delivery or suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth, even if they only experience mild, flu-like symptoms.
Pritzker Hageman’s Listeria lawyers have represented women who have suffered these unimaginable losses. In one case, winning a $3.5 million award for a family who lost unborn twins.
Enoki Mushroom Listeria Illnesses
Genetic tests showed the Listeria strain in samples collected from people sickened was a match to the strain in samples from contaminated mushrooms. So health officials determined that mushrooms supplied by Green Co.. are the source of this outbreak.
Illnesses associated with these contaminated mushrooms were reported from November 23, 206 to December 13, 2019. Case-patients range in age from less than 1 year old to 97 years old.
The number of cases reported from each state was: AZ (2), CA (9), FL (2), HI (3), IN (1), KY (1), MA (2), MD (2), MI (1), MO (1), NC (1), NJ (1), NY (4), RI (1), TN (1), VA (3), WA (1). The fatalities were reported from CA, HI and NJ.
If you or a family member are part of this outbreak and would like a free consultation with our experienced Listeria Team, please call us at 1-888-377-8900, text us at 612-261-0856 or, fill out the form below.