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Outbreaks of hepatitis A in several states in the United States and Canada may have been caused by contaminated organic strawberries sold in leading grocery stores, the Food and Drug Administration has warned, urging customers to dispose of any uneaten batches that may have been frozen. for later consumption.
“Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not sell, serve or eat fresh FreshKampo or HEB organic strawberries if purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022,” the FDA said in a statement issued Saturday. .
The FDA said the potentially affected fruit had been sold nationwide in at least nine popular food chains, including Aldi, Safeway, Trader Joe’s and Walmart, adding that strawberries were “a likely cause of the outbreak.”
“Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of hepatitis A infection after eating these fresh organic strawberries, or if you think you have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks,” the statement said. .
Of the 17 reported cases, at least 15 are listed in California, the FDA said. At least 12 people have been hospitalized with the highly contagious virus, which can cause fever, nausea, stomach pain and fatigue.
Those who report infections in California, Minnesota and Canada say they bought either FreshKampo or HEB-branded fruit before they fell ill.
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It was not immediately clear how the strawberries might have been infected. Hepatitis A is usually contracted through ingestion of contaminated food or water, but can also be spread from person to person, according to information shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can last for several weeks and in rare cases can cause liver failure and death – although this is more common in people with liver disease or those over the age of 50, says the CDC.
The FDA said an investigation into the infected strawberries was under way and that more products could be included as part of the advice. Texas-based FreshKampo and HEB Grocery Co. could not be reached for comment immediately Monday.
According to the FDA, mussels, raw vegetables and fruits are among the foods most commonly cited as potential dietary sources of hepatitis A in the United States. Thorough hand washing is encouraged to reduce the risk of disease.
The products can be infected with hepatitis A if they are treated by someone with the infection who has not washed their hands well, according to the British National Health Service. Washing food in dirty water can also lead to infection.
FreshKampo fruits are also sold in the Middle East and Europe, according to the company’s website.
HEB, in a statement on its website announcing the withdrawal, said it had not received or sold organic strawberries from the supplier under investigation since April 16 – but that anyone who bought organic strawberries during the FDA review period should discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
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“All strawberries sold at HEB are safe,” the statement said, noting that “strawberry diseases have not been reported at HEB or Texas in connection with the FDA investigation.”
In the United States, at least 37 states have reported more than 44,000 cases of hepatitis A since 2016, resulting in at least 420 deaths. Past outbreaks have been linked to products such as raw mussels.
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