The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the ongoing recall of Taiwan Enoki mushrooms distributed by HH Fresh Trading Corp as a Class I recall, the agency's most serious designation.
The firm-initiated recall began on October 11 and was classified by the FDA as Class I on December 4.
A Class I recall is reserved for situations in which consuming the product poses a high probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death. It is usually linked to an urgent removal of the product from the market and notifying consumers.
Newsweek contacted the FDA for comment via email on Friday outside of normal working hours.
The recall was issued due to potential contamination with listeria, which signals a high level of health risk, particularly for vulnerable populations. This bacterium can cause listeriosis, a severe and sometimes fatal illness, especially dangerous for pregnant individuals, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
As reported by Newsweek, the potential for contamination was noted after routine testing performed by the FDA revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 200 grams of Enoki in October.
Meanwhile, the production of mushrooms has since been suspended, and the FDA and the HH Fresh Trading Corp continue to investigate the source of the problem.
The recall involves mushrooms imported from Taiwan and distributed by HH Fresh Trading Corp, headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
The mushrooms were distributed in West Virginia in multiple retail store locations and were sold on August 20 and August 23, with 240 cases for each date.
The mushroom product comes in a 200-gram, clear plastic package marked with barcode #4711498860019 on the reverse.
Consumers are urged to discard or return the affected mushrooms immediately. Anyone who has consumed the mushrooms and is experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea is advised to seek medical attention.
The recall shows ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of imported produce. Enoki mushrooms, white, with long stems and small caps, and a popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines, have been implicated in previous listeria outbreaks, prompting increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies.
In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections, which was thought to be connected to Enoki mushrooms and linked to at least four deaths.
Consumers with questions or concerns are encouraged to visit the FDA's recall webpage or to contact HH Fresh Trading Corp for further information at 1-262-365-9116 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday Pacific Time.
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