CDC investigates Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to enoki mushrooms.

Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that enoki mushrooms labeled as “Product of Korea” are the likely source of this outbreak. On March 9, Sun Hong Foods recalled enoki mushrooms (UPC 7 426852 625810) labeled as “Product of Korea.” Enoki mushrooms distributed by Sun Hong Foods do not account for all illnesses in this outbreak. The FDA is working to identify the source of the enoki mushrooms distributed by Sun Hong Foods and to determine if other distributors received the same enoki mushrooms.

As of March 9, 36 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 17 states. Listeria samples from ill people were collected from Nov. 23, 2016, to Dec. 13, 2019. Of 32 ill people with information available, 30 hospitalizations have been reported, and four deaths have been reported from California, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

State and local public health officials interviewed ill people about the foods they ate in the month before they became ill. Twelve out of 22 (55%) reported eating mushrooms, including enoki, portobello, white, button, cremini, wood ear, maitake, and oyster.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collected mushrooms for testing from a grocery store where an ill person purchased enoki mushrooms. Two samples of enoki mushrooms yielded the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. These mushrooms are labeled as “Product of Korea” and were distributed by Sun Hong Foods. Additional product testing is ongoing in California.

Press release