Canadian grower recalls Listeria conatminated mushrooms

Champ’s Mushrooms issued a recall June 7 for an unknown quantity of fresh, washed, sliced mushrooms distributed to retailers in at least three Canadian provinces because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The product comes in 680-gram packages and has a “best before” date of June 7th.

Distribution could have been nationwide, according to a notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Positive test results from a sample tested by the CFIA triggered the recall, according to the notice. The notice does not include details about when or where CFIA collected the sample or what volume of product Champ’s distributed.

As of June 7, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the mushrooms, which are confirmed to have been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. The CFIA is investigating the source of the listeria and monitoring the recall.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is bacteria found in food, soil, plants, sewage and other places in nature. Animals and humans can carry Listeria in their intestines without knowing it.

Eating food with Listeria on it can cause a serious disease called listeriosis. While it is rare, it is very dangerous to pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. In serious cases, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, brain infection, blood poisoning and even death.

How do people get sick?

People can get listeriosis by eating meat, fish, dairy products, plants or vegetables contaminated with Listeria. Listeria can get on your food from the soil, water, manure-based fertilizers, and even farm animals that look healthy. You can also transfer Listeria from one food to another by not handling it properly.

Many people are exposed to Listeria, but only a few will actually develop listeriosis. Symptoms of “food poisoning” may start suddenly, and include: vomiting, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, severe headache, constipation, persistent fever.

Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, but early diagnosis is key, especially for people at high risk (e.g., pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems).

Source: The Packer