Frozen Strawberries Recalled Over Hepatitis A Risk

Business|Frozen Strawberries Recalled Over Hepatitis A Risk

Frozen integrated strawberries sold astatine Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and different retailers person been recalled aft the products were linked to 5 cases of hepatitis A successful Washington State, the Food and Drug Administration said.

The medication and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, successful concern with authorities and section agencies, are investigating the cases, which included 2 radical who were hospitalized.

“Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not sell, service oregon devour recalled frozen strawberries,” the F.D.A. said successful a statement. “These recalled products should beryllium returned oregon thrown away.”

Investigators recovered that 5 radical who became sick and provided accusation astir what they ate each reported to person consumed the strawberries, the F.D.A. said.

The strain of hepatitis A is genetically identical to a strain that caused an outbreak of hepatitis A infections successful 2022, which was linked to caller integrated strawberries besides imported from Baja California, Mexico.

The 2 vendors successful the latest cases, California Splendor and Scenic Fruit, sold the frozen strawberries to an array of retailers nether respective marque names, including Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets, Simply Nature, Trader Joe’s and Vital Choice, the F.D.A. said.

“Although hepatitis A has not been detected connected this product, retired of an abundance of caution, consumers should halt consuming the merchandise and instrumentality it to their section store for a refund,” Scenic Fruit said successful a statement.

Scenic Fruit said it had ceased the accumulation and organisation of the merchandise arsenic the F.D.A. and the institution investigate.

California Splendor, whose products had been sold astatine Costco stores successful Hawaii, Los Angeles and 2 San Diego concern centers, said successful a statement that hepatitis A had not been detected successful its products.

Costco said hepatitis A had not been detected successful the products it sold but added that consumers should instrumentality them for a afloat refund. Aldi said it had nary reported illnesses connected with the recalled products.

Trader Joe’s recalled its integrated tropical effect mix, which included frozen strawberries arsenic good arsenic frozen bananas, pineapples and mangos, but not its integrated strawberries arsenic an idiosyncratic product.

“No illnesses person been reported to date, and each perchance affected merchandise has been removed from merchantability and destroyed,” Trader Joe’s said successful a statement. “If you purchased immoderate Organic Tropical Fruit Blend, delight bash not devour it. We impulse you to discard the merchandise oregon instrumentality it to immoderate Trader Joe’s for a afloat refund.”

Hepatitis A attacks the liver. Infection typically occurs wrong 15 to 50 days of ingesting contaminated nutrient oregon water, and symptoms tin see fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, acheronian urine and airy stool.

“If consumers purchased the recalled frozen integrated strawberries and ate those berries successful the past 2 weeks, and person not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should instantly consult with their wellness attraction nonrecreational to find whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed,” the F.D.A. said.