In a significant food safety alert issued Monday morning, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced an immediate recall of Peeters-branded mushrooms distributed throughout Ontario and Quebec after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall affects several popular mushroom varieties sold between June 15 and June 28, prompting urgent warnings to consumers who may have purchased the affected products.
“Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Listeria in multiple sample batches,” explained Dr. Marion Houlihan, CFIA’s regional director for food safety. “We’re acting swiftly to remove all potentially contaminated products from the market to protect public health.”
The recall specifically targets Peeters’ white button mushrooms, cremini varieties, and portobello mushrooms packaged in 227g, 454g, and 680g containers. All affected products feature best-before dates ranging from July 2 to July 10, 2025, and display the manufacturer code “PMS-061525” on packaging.
This recall comes at a particularly concerning time, as mushroom consumption typically rises during summer months when grilling season is in full swing. According to Canada News, Peeters Mushrooms, a family-owned operation based in Leamington, Ontario, supplies approximately 15% of fresh mushrooms to major grocery chains across eastern Canada.
Health officials are particularly concerned about Listeria due to its potentially serious effects. Unlike some foodborne pathogens, Listeria can cause severe illness with symptoms appearing anywhere from 3 to 70 days after consumption. While healthy individuals typically experience short-term symptoms like fever, headache, and muscle aches, vulnerable populations face more serious risks.
“Pregnant women, the elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems face the greatest danger,” noted infectious disease specialist Dr. Amrita Singh in an interview with CO24 News. “In severe cases, Listeria infection can lead to meningitis, blood infections, and even miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.”
To date, no illnesses have been definitively linked to the recalled products, but health authorities are monitoring the situation closely. The CFIA has initiated a comprehensive trace-forward investigation to determine if additional products may be affected and to identify the contamination source within the production facility.
Retailers across both provinces have begun removing the products from shelves, and Peeters Mushrooms has issued a statement committing to full cooperation with authorities. “Consumer safety is our absolute priority,” said company spokesperson Rachel Peeters. “We’ve immediately halted distribution from the affected facility and are conducting a thorough sanitation process under CFIA supervision.”
Consumers who have purchased Peeters mushrooms are advised to check their refrigerators and either discard the products or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Health officials recommend thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled mushrooms, as Listeria can survive refrigeration temperatures and spread to other foods.
This incident highlights the importance of Canada’s food safety monitoring system, which conducts over 15,000 random product tests annually according to CO24 Business reporting. The Peeters recall marks the fourth significant Listeria-related food recall in Canada this year, following earlier actions involving prepared deli meats, soft cheeses, and pre-packaged salads.
As summer gatherings and holiday celebrations approach, how confident can consumers be in the safety measures protecting our food supply, and what additional steps might households take to protect vulnerable family members from foodborne illness risks?
