Strawberries may look tempting, but some fresh strawberries that were frozen earlier this year could be a potential source of hepatitis A, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In a Saturday statement, the FDA said it was investigating a “multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada potentially linked to fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo and HEB,” with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Canadian public health authorities.
Produce impacted by the outbreak would have been available from March 5 and April 25 of this year at the following retailers: Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis Markets and WinCo Foods.
According to the CDC, hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) that is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus, even in microscopic amounts, through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink.
Symptoms of the illness include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice and can last up to two months, though most people do not have long-lasting illness.
So far in the U.S., there have been 17 cases linked to the strawberries, 12 hospitalizations and no deaths. Most cases were reported in California, one was reported in Minnesota and one in North Dakota. The last illness onset occurred on April 30.
“Currently, the potentially affected FreshKampo and HEB products are past shelf life,” the FDA said Saturday. However, people who may have purchased the strawberries and froze them for later consumption should not eat them
“If you are unsure of what brand you purchased, when you purchased your strawberries, or where you purchased them from prior to freezing them, the strawberries should be thrown away,” warned the FDA. Since the investigation is ongoing, more products may be included.
People who may have already consumed impacted produce and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, should immediately consult with a healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – which can prevent infection within 14 days of exposure – is needed.
“Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP,” said the FDA.
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