Storing Mushrooms and Food Safety (Listeria, Spoilage)
How fresh mushrooms spoil, why enoki have been recalled for Listeria, what lab tests show about refrigerated storage, and general food-safety advice from official sources.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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Listeria and enoki: the main documented food-safety issue
Enoki mushrooms (Flammulina filiformis, often labeled Flammulina velutipes) have been linked to Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks and recalls. FDA reports that more than 20 recalls of enoki for possible Listeria contamination have been conducted since 2020. [1] The CDC investigation FDA describes found five illnesses and five hospitalizations in four US states in the 2022 to 2023 outbreak, with no deaths. [1]Listeria is a bacterium that can survive and grow in the fridge, which is why storage matters. A Canadian Food Inspection Agency laboratory study added low levels of Listeria to fresh enoki. Counts rose from 30 to 1,000 colony-forming units per gram within 4 days at 10 °C and within 9 days at 4 °C. [2] The authors also noted that imported products are often packaged without free air exchange and have a longer shelf life. [2] This was a lab challenge test on enoki, not a measurement of any shop's mushrooms, and it does not transfer to other mushroom types.
A review by FDA and CDC authors says foods implicated in listeriosis outbreaks have shifted from deli meat and dairy toward produce, including imported specialty mushrooms. [3]
What FDA and CDC advise for enoki
- CDC and FDA advise people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or who have a weakened immune system to cook enoki thoroughly, and to avoid eating enoki raw. [1]
- Keep raw enoki separate from foods that will not be cooked. [1]
- Wash hands, items and surfaces that touched raw enoki. [1]
- Check recall notices: FDA lists specific recalled products on its enoki outbreak page. [1]
For cooking points, see cooking edible mushrooms safely and the enoki mushroom guide.
General cold-food advice from NHS (UK)
The UK National Health Service gives general advice to prevent listeriosis, not mushroom-specific advice: keep chilled ready-to-eat foods cold with the fridge at 5 °C or below, follow storage instructions on labels, use opened food within 2 days unless packaging says otherwise, keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate, and wash hands regularly. [4] US readers should check what their own agencies say; we could not read the US FDA or USDA storage pages we tried (HTTP 403 or 404).Spoilage and shelf life
| Question | What we found | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Are fresh mushrooms perishable? | A 2026 review says edible and medicinal mushrooms have high perishability, causing postharvest quality losses and limiting commercial shelf life. [5] | Review, general statement |
| How many days do common mushrooms last in a fridge? | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for postharvest storage and shelf life, which returned mainly industrial preservation studies (coatings, packaging) rather than home guidance. | Not established |
| Is a cold fridge enough to stop Listeria on enoki? | No. In the lab study above, counts rose even at 4 °C. [2] | Laboratory challenge test |
| How do drying and freezing compare for quality? | One review says freeze-drying generally gives the highest retention of color, texture and bioactive compounds, but is costly industrially. [5] | Industrial scale, not home advice |
For dried mushrooms, see fresh vs dried mushrooms. We did not read a source on slimy texture, smell or mold as spoilage signs, so we do not give a rule. If a product is recalled, follow the recall notice.
Higher-risk groups and symptoms
NHS information says most people with listeriosis have no or mild symptoms (high temperature, aches, chills, sickness, diarrhea), but higher risk groups include people who are pregnant, newborn babies, people with weakened immunity, and older people. [4] Listeriosis in pregnancy can risk miscarriage or stillbirth. [4]If you feel unwell after eating a recalled or raw food and are in a higher-risk group, contact a clinician. FDA tells people with symptoms to contact their health care provider. [1] For collapse, seizure or confusion, call 911. This page covers food, not wild mushrooms; for wild mushrooms call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 and see plant and mushroom poisoning. Also see pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wash mushrooms before storing them?
Proper evidence not found. We did not read a source on washing before storage, so we give no rule. FDA advises washing hands and surfaces that touched raw enoki. [1]
Is Listeria only a problem with enoki?
In the sources we read, enoki are the mushroom linked to US outbreaks and recalls. [1] The NHS Listeria advice applies to chilled ready-to-eat foods in general, not only mushrooms. [4]
Can I freeze or dry mushrooms to keep them longer?
Industrial reviews describe drying and other preservation methods. [5] We did not find readable home-use guidance, so check an official food-safety agency.
Who is most at risk from Listeria?
Per NHS, people who are pregnant, newborn babies, people with weakened immune systems, and older people. [4]
What if a mushroom product is recalled?
Follow the recall notice and do not eat it. Contact a clinician if you have symptoms. [1]
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Enoki Mushrooms (November 2022). Read 2026-10-22.
- Upham JP, Markell JA. Challenge Testing to Determine Growth of Listeria monocytogenes on Fresh Enoki Mushrooms at 4 °C and 10 °C Storage Temperatures. J Food Prot 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Viazis S, et al. An Overview of Listeriosis Outbreak Investigations in the United States Linked to Imported Enoki Mushrooms. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS (UK), Listeriosis. Read 2026-10-22.
- Včelik S, et al. Recent Advances in Preservation Techniques for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms. Foods 2026. Read 2026-10-22.