Four Dead, 30 Hospitalized After Listera Outbreak Linked to Enoki Mushrooms

Four people have died and 30 others have been hospitalized after reportedly eating enoki mushrooms imported from Korea, which may have been contaminated with listeria bacteria. According to a CNN news report, the mushrooms were recalled by Sun Hong Foods on March 9 for listeria contamination.

Deaths and Illnesses

Four deaths have been reported in California, Hawaii and New Jersey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. The CDC has received 36 reports of listeria infections from 17 states. Six cases involved pregnant women two of whom miscarried, the CDC says. The agency is warning against eating, serving or selling any recalled enoki mushrooms distributed by Sun Hong Foods Inc. The recalled mushrooms were sold in clear plastic packages with a green label.

CDC is still looking into the source of the contamination and whether there are any other products linked to the illness. The mushrooms, which are labeled “Product of Korea,” are white and long with small caps. The mushrooms were sold in 7.05-ounce clear plastic packages with a green label. Illnesses from the mushrooms began between Nov. 23, 2016 and Dec. 13, 2019. The CDC is advising all people at high risk of infection including pregnant women, people 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems, to avoid eating any enoki mushrooms from Korea.

Some of the common symptoms of listeria include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, fever, muscle aches and convulsions. Pregnant women can have these same symptoms, but the bacterial infection could also lead to serious consequences such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection for the newborn child. Symptoms typically begin one to four weeks after consuming the tinted food.

If You Have Been Affected

If you have developed a listeria infection as the result of a food product contaminated by the bacteria, make sure you isolate the leftover food so no one else in your household consumes it. Be sure to get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your illness as soon as possible, and follow the doctor’s orders for treatment and care.

If you are diagnosed with listeriosis, have the leftover food tested independently in a laboratory to check for the presence of pathogens. Report your illness to your local health care agency, which tends to track trends in food-borne illnesses. Contact an experienced food poisoning lawyer who can help you secure compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/10/health/enoki-mushrooms-recall-listeria-deaths/index.html