Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Prepackaged porcini mushrooms

Product: Porcini mushrooms
Place of origin: China
Net weight: 150 grams per pack
Best-before date: March 30, 2018

• Follow up on a food poisoning case in relation to the consumption of porcini mushrooms as notified by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, the CFS found that a batch of prepackaged porcini mushrooms as the product is suspected to contain a mixture of species including inedible or poisonous species.
• Mushroom poisoning is generally acute and manifested by a variety of symptoms, depending on the species and amount consumed. The incubation period is usually short. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are the commonest symptoms. Sometimes distinguishing features such as extreme thirst, profuse sweating, hallucination, coma and other neurological symptoms may occur.

• The CFS conducted investigation at a department store in Yau Ma Tei. According to the information provided by the department store concerned, the sale of the product has ceased since the end of June this year.
• The CFS has followed up with Addison Industrial (Group) Limited, the importer and packer of the product concerned. Investigation showed that the affected batch of product was only for sale at the above-mentioned department store.
• The CFS has requested the importer concerned to stop sale and initiate a recall of the affected batch of the product.
• The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

• Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if possessing it.

• If purchased and still possess the affected batch of the product, stop consuming it.
• When buying and eating fresh mushrooms:
  *Do not buy mushroom products which are suspected to include a mix of unknown species;
  *Do not buy mushrooms which look unhygienic (with growing substrates left with the product) or show signs of spoilage (with coloured spots/abnormal smell/slime, etc);
  *Wash and cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption; and
  *Seek medical treatment immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected.

The CFS press release

• Members of the public may call its hotline at 2418 2016 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.