Monterey Mushrooms issues recall in several Northeastern states
By TOM RAGAN
WATSONVILLE — Monterey Mushrooms is recalling 10,000 cases of fresh mushrooms because they may be contaminated with a sometimes-fatal bacteria, the Watsonville-based company announced. The sliced white and Baby Bella mushrooms were distributed at retail stores and produce markets in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to Lisa Bridges, a spokeswoman at the company's marketing office in Knoxville, Tenn.
Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) is a foodborne disease-causing bacteria; the disease is called listeriosis. Listeria can invade the body through a normal and intact gastrointestinal tract. Once in the body, Listeria can travel through the blood stream but the bacteria are often found inside cells. Listeria also produces toxins that damage cells. Listeria invades and grows best in the central nervous system among immune compromised persons, causing meningitis and/or encephalitis (brain infection). In pregnant women, the fetus can become infected, leading to spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, or sepsis (blood infection) in infancy.
Approximately 2,500 cases of listeriosis are estimated to occur in the U.S. each year. About 200 in every 1000 cases result in death. Certain groups of individuals are at greater risk for listeriosis, including pregnant women (and their unborn children) and immunocompromised persons. Among infants, listeriosis occurs when the infection is transmitted from the mother, either through the placenta or during the birthing process. These host factors, along with the amount of bacteria ingested and the virulence of the strain, determine the risk of disease. Human cases of listeriosis are, for the most part, sporadic and treatable. Nonetheless, Listeria remains an important threat to public health, especially among those most susceptible to this disease. For more information on Listeria at Marler Clark, see http://www.marlerclark.com/news-listeria.htm
