FDA is recalling frozen organic strawberries sold at Trader Joe’s and Costco

News

By means of Katherine Donlevy

March 19, 2023 | 1:18 am

Frozen organic strawberries sold at several popular grocery stores — including Trader Joe’s and Costco — were recalled by the FDA on Friday after the fruits were linked to multiple cases of hepatitis A.

The department said at least five people in Washington state were diagnosed with the highly contagious liver infection after eating the produce, all of which were related to California Splendor, Inc., a San Diego-based supplier.

“Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 5/5 (100%) of people who provided information about what they ate before getting sick reported eating frozen organic strawberries,” the FDA said.

The affected strawberries were all imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico.

The hepatitis A virus strain responsible for the illnesses is genetically identical to the strain that caused an outbreak in 2022, which was also linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from the same Mexican area, the FDA said. .

Strawberries from the failed batch were disrupted across the country and stocked on the shelves of Aldi, Costco, Trader Joe’s, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood and PCC Community Markets.

“Consumers, restaurants and retailers are prohibited from selling, serving or eating frozen strawberries. These recalled products must be returned or discarded,” the FDA said.

California Splendor has recalled certain packages of its frozen strawberries from Costco stores across California.

Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, has issued a voluntary recall, citing the “potential health risk.”

Symptoms of hepatitis A usually appear 15 to 50 days after consumption of contaminated products.

“A viral infection includes fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine and pale stools,” the FDA said. “In some cases, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.”