Urgent recall of enoki mushrooms in NSW, Queensland and South Australia

Enoki mushrooms are being recalled from stores in three Australian states due to fears they have been contaminated with listeria.

The mushrooms from brands Fruit Perfections and KO Food Australia are being recalled over incorrect use-by dates that increase the risk of the dangerous disease.

Listeria is a bacterial infection often associated with dairy products, such as ice cream, and deli meats. It can be deadly to pregnant women, newborns and the elderly.

Healthy individuals who ingest listeria may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. 

The mushroom has gained popularity from featuring in TikTok and YouTube recipes. (Pictured: chef Chris Cho)

‘Listeria monocytogenes may cause severe illness in pregnant women, unborn babies, neonates, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals,’ Food Standards Australia said.

‘The general population can also become ill from consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.’

Symptoms of listeria for at-risk groups include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

Fruit Perfection’s product has been recalled across South Australia

Mushrooms from KO Food Australia have been sold in Asian grocery stores across NSW Queensland and South Australia.

Affected products have the use-by date 15/7/2023.

Fruit Perfections are recalling all of the enoki mushrooms sold in 140g packs.

They have been sold in Drakes Supermarkets and Romeo’s Foodland Stores in South Australia.

Food Standards Australia has urged consumers who are concerned about their health to seek medical advice and to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

WHAT IS LISTERIA?

The above image is a computer illustration of the organism Listeria monocytogenes bacterium

WHAT IT IS, THE RISKS, AND HOW TO AVOID IT 

• Listeria is everywhere in the environment
• It’s a type of bacterium that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals through contaminated food
• It’s found in dirty water, irrigation water, soil and fertiliser
• Soft cheeses such as Camembert; cold chicken and deli meats; raw seafood and cold seafood such as smoked salmon; ice cream, fresh fruit and bagged vegetables can also carry Listeria
• Infection can also occur through contact with animals and pests and insufficient cleaning of contaminated fruit and unclean hands 

WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE … AND THE SYMPTOMS

• Pregnant women, infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk
• Listeria starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes diarrhoea
• The time from consuming the bacterium to showing the signs of illness can often be between 8 to 90 days
• Some people end up in hospital with dehydration 

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Don’t buy bruised or damaged fruit, wash it before eating and refrigerate within two hours of slicing
• Avoid foods past their ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date
• Cook foods thoroughly
• Reheat food until it is steaming hot
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 24 hours, or freeze
• Ready to eat food should never be stored in the fridge for too long as Listeria is one of the few pathogens that can grow in the refrigerator

Source: Food Authority NSW, Food Safety Information Council