Scenic Fruit Company, whose food is sold at Trader Joe’s and some Costco stores, among others, is recalling several frozen fruit products due to the risk of hepatitis A contamination.
According to a company announcement that the The Food and Drug Administration shared FridayAffected products include frozen organic strawberries sold under the Kirkland Signature brand at Costco locations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, as well as Trader Joe’s frozen «Organic Tropical Fruit Mix» sold in all the country.
Scenic Fruit Company’s frozen strawberries were also on the shelves of some Aldi stores, Seattle-based PCC Community Markets, and distributed through Vital Choice Seafood, a home delivery service. Those items, sold under the brands Vital Choice, PCC Community Markets, Made With and Simply Nature, are also being recalled.
All names and expiration dates of potentially contaminated products are listed on the FDA website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three cases of hepatitis A, with two more suspected, among people in Washington who reported eating frozen strawberries. Two of those patients required hospitalization, but no deaths have been reported.
«Although hepatitis A has not been detected in this product, out of an abundance of caution, consumers should stop consuming the product and return it to their local store for a refund,» the Oregon-based Scenic Fruit Company said in its report. advertisement.
Trader Joe’s said in a online statement on Friday that «no illnesses have been reported to date, and all potentially affected products have been withdrawn from sale and destroyed.»
Scenic Fruit Company said that it has halted production and distribution of the products in question while it investigates the issue with the FDA.
A company spokesperson told NBC News the frozen strawberries came from its supplier, California Splendor, which announced on thursday that it was recalling certain bags of frozen Kirkland Signature organic strawberries sold at some Costco stores in California and Hawaii.
“The investigation is ongoing. Based on previous investigations of this nature, it likely originated from a farm in Mexico,» the Scenic Fruit Company said in a statement, referring to the source of the hepatitis A. «However, we referred to the FDA and CDC.»
He FDA said Friday that the recalled strawberries were imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico. The hepatitis A strain causing disease this year is genetically identical to the strain that caused an outbreak linked to Baja California strawberries last year, according to the agency.
Hepatitis A infections can lead to liver disease, and symptoms usually appear two to seven weeks after infection, according to the CDC. People with mild disease may experience fever, fatigue, abdominal or joint pain, diarrhea, jaundice, or dark urine.
Symptoms usually last less than two months, but some people can be sick for up to six months.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus and can be spread by consuming food or drink handled by an infected person. food can come contaminated with hepatitis A at any time during growing, harvesting, processing or handling, according to the CDC.
People with HIV or chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are at increased risk of liver damage or liver failure if they contract hepatitis A.
A shot of the hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent the disease if given within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food. There is no designated treatment for the disease, although symptoms can be relieved with rest, proper nutrition, and fluids.
Scenic Fruit Company saying on Thursday that people who may have consumed the recalled products should consult a health care professional or the local health department to decide if it is appropriate to get vaccinated. People with symptoms should see a doctor immediately, the company added.