Frozen strawberries sold at Costco, Trader Joe’s and Aldi recalled after hepatitis A infections

CNN
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Frozen natural strawberries bought at Costco, Aldi, Dealer Joe’s and different shops are being recalled after they have been tied to an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in Washington state.

The US Meals and Drug Administration is warning individuals to not eat, promote or serve sure manufacturers of frozen natural strawberries after 5 individuals have been contaminated with hepatitis A after consuming them. Two individuals have been hospitalized.

Investigators with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered that in all 5 of the circumstances, the sick people had eaten frozen strawberries bought by a typical provider. Strawberries utilized by this provider have been imported from sure farms in Baja California, Mexico, in 2022.

The pressure of hepatitis A inflicting the sicknesses this yr is genetically equivalent to the pressure that induced an outbreak of hepatitis A infections final yr. That outbreak was linked to recent natural strawberries imported from Mexico and bought at numerous retailers in the USA.

Hepatitis A is a hardy virus that survives freezing. It persists for hours on human arms and for days on contaminated surfaces.

In response to the investigation, two suppliers have now recalled frozen natural strawberries: California Splendor of San Diego, California, has recalled sure a number of 4-pound luggage of Kirkland model frozen strawberries at Costco shops in California; Scenic Fruit Firm of Gresham, Oregon, has voluntarily recalled frozen natural strawberries bought to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Important Selection Seafood and PCC Group Markets in sure states and to Dealer Joe’s nationwide.

The baggage of strawberries have “finest by” dates that vary from April to November 2024. A full listing of the recalled strawberries is out there on the FDA’s web site.

The CDC and FDA advise that if in case you have any of the recalled strawberries in your freezer, you need to throw them away or return them to the shop for a refund.

Hepatitis A virus is a virus that assaults the liver. Individuals get sick 15 to 50 days after consuming or ingesting contaminated meals or water. Signs of hepatitis A an infection embody fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdomen ache, yellowing of the pores and skin or eyes, darkish urine and pale stool. Some infections, significantly in youngsters youthful than age 6, could not trigger signs