(BIVN) – State health officials are advising residents who may have purchased certain enoki mushrooms sold in Hawai’i to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, after the products were recalled due to potential Listeria contamination.

From the Hawai’i Department of Health:

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is alerting residents to a voluntary recall of enoki mushrooms sold in Hawai‘i, produced by Taiwan-based Changhua County Mushrooms Productions Cooperative and distributed by Jan Fruits Inc., because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by DOH’s Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch which revealed that the enoki mushrooms contained Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the enoki mushrooms.

The enoki mushrooms are sold in a 7.05oz (200g) clear plastic package with a green-lettered “Premium,” printed with two QR scan codes and UPC 8 51084 00835 8 on the back side of a package. The package has no lot code or dates.

“If you have consumed this product, watch for symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, or fever,” the health department added. “If symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider.” From the DOH:

Listeriosis is a life-threatening, invasive infection caused by eating Listeria–contaminated food. The disease primarily affects pregnant individuals and their newborns, older adults, and persons with immune systems weakened by cancer, cancer treatments, or other serious conditions (like diabetes, kidney failure, liver disease, and HIV/AIDS). A person with listeriosis generally has fever and muscle aches and can have a bloodstream infection or meningitis. Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to two months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within several days, often with diarrhea. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.

DOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following for all other enoki mushrooms:

• Thoroughly cook enoki mushrooms before serving or consuming them, do not serve or consume them raw.
• Do not use raw enoki mushrooms as garnish.
• Do not add raw enoki mushrooms on top of soup dishes right before serving. The enoki mushrooms will not get hot enough to kill Listeria.
• Keep raw enoki mushrooms separate from foods that won’t be cooked.
• Wash hands after handling raw enoki mushrooms.

“Listeria is a bacterium that can be found in dust, soil, water, sewage and in the environment, where produce can become contaminated,” health officials say. “Anyone suspecting listeriosis should contact their healthcare provider.”