AH USA Group Inc. is recalling Golden Koi’s Black Fungus (Nam Meo) due to potential salmonella contamination. Black fungus is a common seasoning or spice used in Japanese ramen noodles. It is an edible mushroom.
The state of Pennsylvania found three different strains of salmonella in the sample of black fungus they were testing. The names of these strains of salmonella: Salmonella Javiana, Salmonella Mgulani, and salmonella Weltevreden. Health officials are concerned, even though there have been no reported human illnesses yet, as any potential outbreak could be draw out because many people keep black fungus in their homes and pantries and these products have a considerable expiration date.
The recalled line of black fungus has an expiration date of October 2024.
The recall of Golden Koi’s black fungus applies to twelve different states, including the following: Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The exact package that AH USA Group Inc. is recalling is 2.5 OZ. with an item code of TW4115. Consumers or customers who have Golden Koi’s Black Fungus in their pantry or home are encouraged to return the item for a full refund or dispose of it immediately.
There have been no reported illnesses yet, although many cases of food poisoning often go unreported.
Salmonella is not a pathogen that can be seen, smelled, or tasted in food. If the food is contaminated with salmonella , it will usually not noted until after consumption, once the consumer begins showing symptoms.
According to the CDC, symptoms of the salmonella virus include but are not limited to, diarrhea, fever, cramps, bloody stool, vomiting, headaches, nausea, and chills. These symptoms usually show up within 6 hours to 6 days after consumption of poisoned food. The illness typically lasts 4-7 days and most people recover without needing hospitalization. Now, people can be asymptomatic, meaning they have the virus, but show know signs of being sick. These people are still capable of spreading salmonellosis to others. People with weakened immune systems, infants, older adults, pregnant women, and people with severe illnesses are more likely to ingest the foodborne illness, and it might have a much more extreme effect on those previously listed.
Food poisoning lawyer Tony Coveny recommends consumers who have ingested this black fungus product, and become symptomatic, see a doctor immediately and request a stool culture.
