The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a recall notice that warns consumers to dispose of a certain brand of mushrooms, which have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacterium. Here’s what you need to know about the recall.
What is the reason for the recall?
On April 16, Harvest NYC Inc. of Brooklyn, New York, announced a recall of an Enoki Mushroom product due to fears of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Two days after Harvest NYC initiated the recall, the notice was posted on the FDA’s website.
According to the notice, the recall was initiated after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of the mushrooms that had been collected for analysis.
What product is being recalled?
This recall covers only one product. Here are the details, according to the recall listing on the FDA’s website:
- Product Description: Enoki Mushrooms
- Package Description: green plastic package
- Package size: 200g package
- Company Name: Harvest NYC Inc
- Brand Name: Hofood99 Inc
- UPC Barcode: 6975730520101
Images of the recalled product in its packaging can be found here.
Where was the recalled product sold?
According to the notice on the FDA’s website, the recalled mushrooms were sold nationwide. However, the recall notice does not state which stores the mushrooms were sold in other than saying that the recalled product was sold in “retail stores.”
When was the recalled product sold?
The recalled product in question was sold between January 11 and January 31, 2025, according to the recall notice.
What is Listeria?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria is a bacterium that can cause severe illness in people. In the United States, there are about 1,600 reported cases a year. Listeria infections have a high fatality rate, with as many as 260 of those 1,600 infected individuals succumbing to the infection.
According to the FDA notice, fatal infections can occur in individuals with weakened immune systems, as well as young children and frail or elderly people.
What are the symptoms of a Listeria infection?
Symptoms of a Listeria infection can vary depending on the type of infection and whether a person is pregnant, the CDC says.
Symptoms of an invasive Listeria illness (one where the bacteria have spread beyond the gut) in pregnant individuals can include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
Listeria infections in a pregnant individual can also result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to the CDC.
In people who are not pregnant, invasive illness symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
For individuals who have intestinal Listeria illness, the following symptoms are usually present:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Has anyone been harmed by the recalled product?
As of the time of the recall notice’s posting on the FDA’s website, no illnesses were known to be reported that are associated with the recall.
What do I do if I have the recalled enoki mushrooms?
You should not consume them. Instead, the recall notice states that you should destroy the products immediately or return the products to their place of purchase for a refund.
If you have questions about the recall, you can contact Harvest NYC Inc. at (718) 596-0777.
Full details of the recall can be found here.
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