Fresh, Organic Strawberries Investigated For Potential Hepatitis A; Strawberry Recall Issued

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Strawberry Recall Hepatitis A Overview: 

• Who: Food safety officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada. 
• Why: The infections are potentially linked to fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo and HEB.
• Where: The outbreaks occurred in both the United States and Canada.

Food safety officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada that may be linked to fresh, organic strawberries, and a strawberry recall has been issued.

On May 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers, telling them not to eat, serve or sell FreshKampo or HEB brand organic strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25, 2022.

The warning comes after hepatitis A infections sickened 17 people and hospitalized 12. The last known illness onset was April 30, 2022, and there have been 15 cases of illness in California, one in Minnesota and one in North Dakota. 

“The traceback investigations show that cases in California, Minnesota and Canada report having purchased fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB prior to becoming ill. Illness onset dates range from March 28 – April 30, 2022,” the notice says.

Currently, the potentially affected FreshKampo and HEB products are past shelf life, food safety officials said.  

However, people who purchased FreshKampo and HEB fresh organic strawberries between March 5 and April 25, 2022 and then froze those strawberries for later consumption should also be aware not to eat them. 

Strawberries Sold at Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis, WinCo

The potentially affected products were sold at the following retailers, including, but not limited to: Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis Markets and WinCo Foods.

“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,” officials say. 

Meanwhile, if consumers purchased fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB between March 5 and April 25, 2022, ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed, the strawberry recall notice says.

This is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure. 

Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP, the recall says.

Last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a food recall warning for various frozen mango products from Nature’s Touch Frozen Food Inc.

What are your thoughts on this strawberry hepatitis A recall? Let us know in the comments! 

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