Mushroom recall: Wood ear mushrooms likely linked to salmonella outbreak shipped to restaurants in 30-plus states

Two federal health agencies are investigating a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections probably linked to wood ear mushrooms imported by Wismettac Asian Foods of Santa Fe Springs, California.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration issued notices this week advising consumers to be cautious when ordering meals with mushrooms. The dried mushrooms were shipped to restaurants in 31 states and Washington, D.C.

"Consumers can ask restaurants where mushrooms are from before ordering to avoid eating recalled mushrooms," the FDA said.

There have been 41 reported cases of the salmonella infection in 10 states. Four people have been hospitalized, the CDC said.

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"Restaurants should not sell or serve recalled wood ear mushrooms distributed by Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., labeled as Shirakiku brand Black Fungus (Kikurage)," the FDA said. "Restaurants should immediately discard any of the recalled product."

Wismettac Asian Foods voluntarily recalled the 5-pound bags of dried fungus that were imported from China because of "the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," the company said on its website.

According to the recall and health alerts, the product was distributed to restaurants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin andWashington, D.C., as well as British Columbia in Canada.

The FDA said, "Restaurants that received recalled products should use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that may have come in contact with recalled product to reduce the risk of cross contamination."

The recall notice said consumers with questions can contact the company at recall@wismettacusa.com.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko