Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbiological quality and safety of fresh mushroom products at retail level in Korea

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Food Science and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several investigations and recalls have demonstrated that Listeria monocytogenes can occur on mushrooms. This study aimed to assess the microbiological quality and safety of four types of edible mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Agaricus bisporus) available in the Korean market, and to evaluate the prevalence of Listeria spp., including L. monocytogenes. Results revealed that out of 100 samples tested, 16% (32/200) were positive for Listeria spp. Of the Listeria-positive samples, five strains of Listeria innocua were detected. The total microbial counts ranged from 0.79 to 5.84 log CFU/g, with F. velutipes exhibiting the highest microbial load (mean 5.03 log CFU/g). These findings provide significant data for risk assessment and emphasize the need for continued monitoring of the microbiological safety of edible mushrooms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Beelman RB, Guthrie BD, Royse DJ. Influence of bacterial populations on postharvest deterioration of fresh mushrooms. Mushroom Science 12: 655-665 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Byun KH, Han SH, Choi MW, Park SH, Ha SD. Isolation, characterization, and application of bacteriophages to reduce and inhibit Listeria monocytogenes in celery and enoki mushroom. Food Control 135: 108826 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang R. Functional properties of edible mushrooms. Nutrition Reviews 54: 3 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen M, Cheng J, Wu Q, Zhang J, Chen Y, Zeng H, Ding Y. Prevalence, potential virulence, and genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from edible mushrooms in Chinese markets. Frontiers in Microbiology 9: 1711 (2018)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chen M, Wu Q, Zhang J, Guo W, Wu S, Yang X. Prevalence and contamination patterns of Listeria monocytogenes in Flammulina velutipes plants. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 11: 620-627 (2014)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng HH, Hou WC, Lu ML. Interactions of lipid metabolism, and intestinal physiology with Tremella fuciformis berk edible mushroom in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet with or without nebacitin. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 50: 7438-7443 (2002)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Churklam W, Chaturongakul S, Ngamwongsatit B, Aunpad R. The mechanisms of action of carvacrol and its synergism with nisin against Listeria monocytogenes on sliced bologna sausage. Food Control 108: 106864 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dygico LK, Gahan CG, Grogan H, Burgess CM. The ability of Listeria monocytogenes to form biofilm on surfaces relevant to the mushroom production environment. International Journal of Food Microbiology 317: 108385 (2020)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gormley R. Chill storage of mushrooms. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 26: 401-411 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H, Miraglia D, Ranucci D, Donnini D, Roila R, Branciari R, Li C. High microbial loads found in minimally processed sliced mushrooms from Italian market. Italian Journal of Food Safety 7: 7000 (2018)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kabir Y, Yamaguchi M, Kimura S. Effect of shiitake (Lentinus edodes) and maitake (Grjfola frondosa) mushrooms on blood pressure and plasma lipids of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 33: 341-346 (1987)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manohar V, Talpur NA, Echard BW, Lieberman S, Preuss HG. Effects of a water-soluble extract of maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 4: 43-48 (2002)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mattila P, Könkö K, Eurola M, Pihlava JM, Astola J, Vahteristo L, Piironen V. Contents of vitamins, mineral elements, and some phenolic compounds in cultivated mushrooms. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 49: 2343-2348 (2001)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDSa). Korean Food Code. Available at: https://various.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/fsd/#/ext/Document/FC. Accessed April 28, 2023

  • Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDSb). The foodborne illness outbreak investigation test act of 2022. https://www.nifds.go.kr/brd/m_18/view.do?seq=12626. Accessed March 17, 2022

  • Murugesan L, Kucerova Z, Knabel SJ, LaBorde LF. Predominance and distribution of a persistent Listeria monocytogenes clone in a commercial fresh mushroom processing environment. Journal of Food Protection 78: 1988-1998 (2015)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pennone V, Dygico KL, Coffey A, Gahan CG, Grogan H, McAuliffe O, Jordan K. Effectiveness of current hygiene practices on minimization of Listeria monocytogenes in different mushroom production-related environments. Food Science & Nutrition 8: 3456-3468 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pennone V, Lehardy A, Coffey A, McAuliffe O, Jordan K. Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from Agaricus bisporus mushroom production. Journal of Applied Microbiology 125: 586-595 (2018)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prema V, Latha M, Stephen KJ, Bindhu V, Naveen C, Luke LF. Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in a small-scale mushroom production facility. Journal of Food Protection 76: 608-615 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis FS, Barros L, Martins A, Ferreira IC. Chemical composition, and nutritional value of the most widely appreciated cultivated mushrooms: an inter-species comparative study. Food and Chemical Toxicology 50: 191-197 (2012)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schill S, Stessl B, Meier N, Tichy A, Wagner M, Ludewig M. Microbiological safety and sensory quality of cultivated mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes) at retail level and post-retail storage. Foods 10: 816 (2021)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sia GM, Candlish JK. Effects of shiitake (Lentinus edodes) extract on human neutrophils and the U937 monocytic cell line. Phytotherapy Research 13: 133-137 (1999)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simón A, González-Fandos E, Tobar V. The sensory and microbiological quality of fresh sliced mushroom (Agaricus bisporus L.) packaged in modified atmospheres. International Journal of Food Science & Technology 40: 943-952 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soler-Rivas C, Jolivet S, Arpin N, Olivier J, Wichers H. Biochemical and physiological aspects of brown blotch disease of Agaricus bisporus. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 23: 591-614 (1999)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tajalipour S, Hassanzadeh N, Khabbaz Jolfaee H, Heydari A, Ghasemi A. Biological control of mushroom brown blotch disease using antagonistic bacteria. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 24: 473-484 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valerie CB, David O. Effects of gas atmosphere and temperature on the respiration rates of whole and sliced mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)-Implications for film permeability in modified atmosphere packages. Journal of Food Science 72: E197-E204 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venturini ME, Reyes JE, Rivera CS, Oria R, Blanco D. Microbiological quality and safety of fresh cultivated and wild mushrooms commercialized in Spain. Food Microbiology 28: 1492-1498 (2011)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Willis C, McLauchlin J, Aird H, Amar C, Barker C, Dallman T, Sadler-Reeves L. Occurrence of Listeria and Escherichia coli in frozen fruit and vegetables collected from retail and catering premises in England 2018–2019. International Journal of Food Microbiology 334: 108849 (2020)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wong WC, Fletcher JT, Unsworth BA, Preece TF. A note on ginger blotch, a new bacterial disease of the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. Journal of Applied Microbiology 52: 43-48 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu J, Wu S, Liu M, Xiao Z, Peng Y, He H. Prevalence and contamination patterns of Listeria monocytogenes in Pleurotus eryngii (king oyster mushroom) production plants. Frontiers in Microbiology 14 (2023)

  • Zhang H, Yamamoto E, Murphy J, Locas A. Microbiological safety of ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sold on the Canadian retail market. International Journal of Food Microbiology 335: 108855 (2020)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants (22192MFDS024) from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea, and the Chung-Ang University Graduate Research Scholarship in 2023.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutrition, Chung-Ang University, 4726, Seodong-daero, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Boyang Meng, A-Ra Jang, Hyunji Song & Sun-Young Lee

Authors
  1. Boyang Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A-Ra Jang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hyunji Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sun-Young Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sun-Young Lee.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Meng, B., Jang, AR., Song, H. et al. Microbiological quality and safety of fresh mushroom products at retail level in Korea. Food Sci Biotechnol 33, 1261–1268 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-023-01385-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-023-01385-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation