Mushrooms Recalled, Potential Risk for
Listeria
Source of Article: http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/11853/mushrooms-recall-listeria-phillips-mushroom-farms.html
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February
2, 2009. By Gordon Gibb
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Kennett
Square, PA: Mushrooms
that could cause serious illness—or even death—have been recalled
due to a potential for listeria, it has
been learned.
Today a recall has been issued for 3.5-ounce packages of enoki
mushrooms produced by Phillips Mushroom Farms, which is based in Pennsylvania. The
fear, based on preliminary tests, is the potential for listeria
contamination.
So far, no illnesses have been reported. However, listeria
is right up there with salmonella and e.coli
contamination in terms of seriousness, and the recall is being conducted as a
precaution.
Listeria has been in the news over the past year, focused in Canada. That
was when Maple Leaf Foods, the Canadian producer of deli meats and other meat
products, was devastated with an outbreak of listeria
at a Toronto
manufacturing facility. Many were sickened as the result of the listeria outbreak, and there were deaths.
Listeria can cause flu-like symptoms, including fever and muscle aches.
Nausea and diarrhea are also common symptoms of listeria
poisoning and—much like salmonella and e.coli—listeria can be particularly devastating to the elderly,
pregnant women newborn children, or anyone with a weakened immune system.
The mushroom recall involves 3.5-ounce packages of enoki
mushrooms bearing the code UPC 33383 67540. Often used in Asian cuisine, enoki mushrooms are white and characterized by their
long, thin profile. The offending mushrooms were packaged by Phillips
Mushroom Farms in clear plastic bags featuring blue,
or green graphics and sold from January 13th to 30th of this year.
Retailers have been instructed to remove the mushrooms from store shelves.
Phillips Mushroom Farms has placed an 'urgent notice' on its web site with
regard to the recall, although little information is forthcoming. It was not
mentioned if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was
involved in the recall.
Enoki mushrooms are described as tender with a
sweet, mild taste. They have been described as grown in bottles, and pulled
from the bottles at point of harvesting. The white mushrooms feature long
stems and small caps, and are usually sold in clusters.
According to their web site, Phillips Mushroom Farms has been in business
since 1927 and is a privately held grower, run by the Phillips family. Based
in Kennett Square, PA
the largest grower of specialty mushrooms in the US distributes more than 35
million pounds of specialty products each year.
Prior to this mushroom recall, a massive recall of products made with peanut
paste from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has galvanized debate amongst
advocates of food safety. While the investigation into the PCA recall
continues, including the existing conditions at a plant in Blakely, Georgia,
concern mounts over the relative safety of the nation's food supply, and the
ability of federal regulators to properly monitor the industry in an effort
to avoid illness, or death.
Last week it was reported that a shipment of peanuts from PCA was refused
entry into Canada
when it was noted that the shipment was interwoven with some kind of black
mass, and gave off a putrid smell. The peanuts, it was reported, were not
allowed back into the US
because of it. An earlier inspection of the PCA facility in Georgia
revealed deplorable conditions, including mould on the walls and ceiling of
the plant, and foot-long breaches in the building's roof.
So far, there have been no illnesses reported in association with the enoki mushrooms grown, and distributed by Phillips.
However, if you or a loved one has been sickened with listeria
from eating these potentially tainted mushrooms, you would be well advised to
consult an attorney to explore your options.
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