Australian grocers are recalling Enoki mushrooms from stores in three states after concerns arose that the mushrooms may be contaminated with Listeria. This announcement was made by KO Food Australia and Fruit Perfections, the brand owners responsible for being sold under the seemingly innocuous name.
Enoki mushrooms, also known as Golden Enoki or Winter’s Mushroom, are long and thin mushrooms that are usually sold in plastic packs. Unfortunately, some of these mushrooms have been improperly labelled with invalid use by dates, thus increasing the risk of listeria contamination.
Listeria is a dangerous bacterial infection that can cause severe food poisoning and even worse, can have fatal consequences. Symptoms of infection often include nausea, vomiting, suffering from diarrhoea, flu-like symptoms, and fever.
“Pregnant women, unborn babies, neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are at risk of severe illness due to Listeria monocytogenes, and even the general population can become ill if they consume food that has been contaminated by this pathogen,” Food Standards Australia said.
Products from KO Food Australia with the use-by date 15/7/2023, sold in Asian grocery stores in NSW, Queensland, and South Australia, are affected.
All 140g packs of Enoki Mushrooms, sold at Drakes Supermarkets and Romeo’s Foodland Stores in South Australia, are being recalled by Fruit Perfections.
Australia Food Standards recommends that those worried about their health should obtain medical advice, and return the product in exchange for a refund.