Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) has found no evidence that enoki mushrooms from a Chinese producer recently flagged by US authorities were imported into the country, but has stepped up testing of imported mushrooms for Listeria monocytogenes.
The move follows the US Food and Drug Administration’s Import Alert 99-35, which covers certain Chinese producers whose fresh produce is subject to import controls due to concerns over unsanitary conditions and potential contamination.
Supattra Boonserm, secretary-general of the Thai FDA, said the agency had monitored the US alert and reviewed Thailand’s import records.
Preliminary checks found no imports of enoki mushrooms from the producer named in the latest alert, she said.
Increased testing for Listeria
Despite the findings, the Thai FDA has increased sampling of imported enoki mushrooms for laboratory testing for Listeria monocytogenes. It will also continue risk-based surveillance of imported food.
Supattra said Listeria bacteria could be found in soil, water and the wider environment, meaning vegetables and other agricultural produce could also be contaminated. The bacteria were not exclusive to enoki mushrooms.
She said proper heat treatment could destroy the bacteria, adding that consumers could continue eating enoki mushrooms as long as they were cooked thoroughly.
Cook mushrooms above 70°C
The agency advised consumers against eating enoki mushrooms raw or undercooked.
Food should reach an internal temperature above 70°C, particularly when preparing dishes such as shabu, sukiyaki and moo kratha. Enoki mushrooms should be cooked thoroughly rather than briefly dipped into hot broth.
Five basic food-safety practices
The Thai FDA also advised consumers to follow five basic food-safety practices: keeping hands, kitchen surfaces and utensils clean; separating raw and cooked foods and using different equipment where possible to prevent cross-contamination; cooking food thoroughly; storing refrigerated products below 4°C; and using clean water and safe ingredients while choosing fresh produce and washing fruit and vegetables before eating.
Restaurants were urged to maintain proper food hygiene and ensure enoki mushrooms were thoroughly cooked before serving.
The Thai FDA said it would continue monitoring imported food according to risk levels to protect consumers and respond to food-safety alerts issued overseas.
