In a nationwide alert, packets of enoki mushrooms have been recalled due to concerns regarding potential contamination with a dangerous bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. This recall, confirmed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), affects 5.3-ounce packages of Enoki Mushrooms produced by Enoki King Mushroom Farm, located in Ventura, California.

The recalled products were distributed across the United States, reaching retail stores from California to New York. The issue came to light during routine testing conducted by the Maryland State Department of Health, which detected the presence of Listeria in the enoki mushroom packages.

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness, and it is recognized as the third leading cause of death related to foodborne diseases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although many infections may present mild symptoms, certain groups of people are at higher risk for severe illness, including newborns, pregnant individuals, adults over the age of 65, and those with compromised immune systems. The FDA has classified infections caused by this bacterium as