Enoki mushrooms from Korea linked to deadly U.S. Listeria outbreak

Enoki mushrooms from Korea are the likely cause of a deadly Listeria outbreak in the United States that has sickened 36 people in 17 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Illnesses started between Nov. 23, 2016, and Dec. 13, 2019, with 30 hospitalizations reported and four deaths reported in California, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

Six cases involved pregnant women, resulting in the loss of two pregnancies, according to the CDC.

On March 9, 2020, Sun Hong Foods Inc. recalled enoki mushrooms because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Enoki mushrooms are white, with long stems and small caps.