Frozen organic strawberries and an organic tropical fruit blend sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and other stores across the US have been recalled over the product’s potential link to an outbreak of hepatitis A.
Organic frozen strawberries and frozen tropical fruit blend recalled over hepatitis A
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that, out of caution, two companies are voluntarily recalling frozen organic strawberries and a fruit blend from numerous stores across the US due to an outbreak of hepatitis A.
So far, there have been five documented infections, two resulting in hospitalizations, all occurring in Washington state. No deaths have been associated with the outbreak thus far, People reported.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection, often spread through eating contaminated food or drink, as well as through close contact with an infected person, according to the CDC. Hepatitis symptoms can take up to seven weeks to become apparent, typically manifesting as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, dark urine or pale stools, and fatigue.
An investigation was conducted by the FDA, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that uncovered that all five people infected with hepatitis A had purchased the same brand of frozen organic strawberries before becoming ill, NPR reported. The outbreaks began sometime between November 24 and December of last year.
The strawberries were all identified as coming from a common supplier that imported them from farms in Baja California, Mexico. The CDC said these farms “are the likely source of this outbreak.”
Companies and products involved in the recall
Two companies have issued a voluntary recall in response to the FDA and CDC investigations. However, the products come under a variety of brand names including Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets, and Trader Joe’s.
1. Scenic Fruit Company, based in Gresham, Oregon. Their recall involves frozen organic strawberries that were sold in several states at the following markets: Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets.
The company also recalled its frozen organic fruit blend, which includes strawberries, and was sold at Trader Joe’s stores nationwide.
2. California Splendor, based in San Diego, California. The company recalled specific lots of 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries. These were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles and two San Diego business centers, as well as in Hawaii.
