All five enoki mushroom samples collected from four vendors in Bangkok tested positive for Listeria bacteria, a Thai doctor has warned, urging consumers to cook the mushrooms thoroughly and high-risk groups to take extra precautions.
Dr. Khosit Iewchai, known as Dr. Benz Masterpiece on TikTok, posted a warning on Tuesday, 27 October, about the potential health risks associated with enoki mushrooms commonly eaten in mala, shabu and Thai-style barbecue restaurants.
He said the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, can survive refrigeration and may remain alive if food is not heated sufficiently. However, the five positive samples cited in his video do not establish how widespread contamination is across the market.
The doctor advised four groups to avoid enoki mushrooms if possible: older people, pregnant women, infants and people with weakened immune systems. Listeria infection can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, chills, muscle pain and fatigue. Severe cases may lead to bloodstream infections, meningitis and death, particularly among vulnerable people.
The warning does not mean consumers must stop eating enoki mushrooms, he said. Instead, they should cook them properly, including boiling them in water for at least two minutes, rather than briefly dipping them into hot broth until they soften.
The National Food Institute, under the Ministry of Industry, issued similar advice in April 2024, warning that raw enoki mushrooms may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes through the production environment or storage.
The institute said the bacteria can survive and grow under refrigeration, meaning keeping contaminated mushrooms in a refrigerator does not eliminate the risk.
It recommended washing the mushrooms with clean water and cooking them at 70 degrees Celsius for at least two minutes, or boiling, stir-frying, deep-frying, grilling or roasting them until fully cooked before eating.
