As frozen fruit prices rise, consumers may want to skip purchasing them this season for another reason – an Oregon-based fruit supply company Tuesday became the latest company to issue a recall related to an outbreak of nine hepatitis A cases.
“Willamette Valley Fruit Co, Salem, OR is voluntarily recalling select packages of frozen fruit containing strawberries grown in Mexico,” said a U.S. Food and Drug Administration notice. Fruit was sold under the brand names Great Value and Rader Farms.
The outbreak of hepatitis A cases on the West Coast has been linked to frozen strawberries sold by several suppliers and found at multiple large retailers across the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous recalls were published by the FDA on March 16 and March 17. Meijer also issued a recall on March 17.
Illnesses from the outbreak date back to last November and were reported most recently in April. So far, three people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
Cases have been found in California, Oregon and Washington. Each of the people who fell ill reported that they ate frozen organic strawberries.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by a virus that can be prevented by a vaccine, said the CDC. Symptoms develop within two to seven weeks after exposure and include: yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, stomach pain, throwing up, fever, dark urine or light-colored stools, joint pain, diarrhea and feeling tired. However, some people do not develop symptoms, especially children.
“People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage,” the CDC explained. In severe cases, the infection can lead to hospitalization, liver failure and death.
Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has linked the recent outbreak to frozen organic strawberries imported fresh from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico, in 2022. This strain is genetically identical to one that caused foodborne hepatitis A outbreak in 2022.
According to the recall notices, potentially impacted products have been sold in many states. Per the most recent recall from Willamette Valley Fruit Co, impacted stores and regions include:
Walmart: Great Value Sliced Strawberries, Great Value Mixed Fruit, and Great Value Antioxidant Blend distributed to select Walmart stores in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming from Jan. 24 to June 8.
Costco Wholesale Stores: Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend distributed to Costco Wholesale stores in Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona from Oct. 3, 2022 to June 8.
HEB: Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio distributed to HEB stores in Texas from July 18, 2022 to June 8.
To date, here have been no illnesses associated with this specific voluntary recall, the FDA said this week. More information about previous recalls is available through the CDC.
“Check your freezer for these recalled frozen organic strawberries and return or throw away any remaining product,” said the centers. “If you have eaten these recalled frozen organic strawberries within the last 14 days and are not vaccinated against hepatitis A, contact your local health department or health care provider to discuss postexposure prophylaxis (hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin). Getting postexposure prophylaxis within 14 days of exposure can help prevent illness.”
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