Category Archives: Hepatitis A

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Newport (ref #1179) in a not yet identified product, FDA has initiated on-site inspection and sample collection.
Date
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
8/30/2023 1179 Salmonella
Newport
Not Yet
Identified
8 Active
8/30/2023 1174 Cryptosporidium Not Yet
Identified
11 Active
8/9/2023 1172 Listeria
monocytogenes
Ice Cream See
Advisory
Active
7/6/2023 1163 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
140 Active
6/14/2023 1159 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
72 Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis
A Virus
Frozen
Strawberries
See
Advisory
Active

FAO and WHO plan meeting on foodborne viruses

Food Safety News

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) are set to hold an expert meeting on viruses in food later this month.

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) event, at FAO headquarters in Rome on Sept. 18 to 22, will work on food attribution, analytical methods, and indicators of viruses in foods.

United States-based experts proposed for the meeting are Donald Schaffner, of Rutgers University; Xiang-Jin Meng, at Virginia Tech; Kali Kniel, from the University of Delaware; Lee-Ann Jaykus, at North Carolina State University; and Jacquelina Williams-Woods of the FDA.

In 2022, the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) asked JEMRA to provide scientific advice to inform a review of guidelines established in 2012. This was due to emerging issues associated with foodborne viruses and scientific developments.

Quebec – Notice not to consume various varieties of Brouthé brand kombucha prepared and sold by the company Les produits Pas Poche – Hepatitis A

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , Aug. 9, 2023 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Les produits Pas Poche, located at 133, rue Lévesque, in Sherbrooke , advises the population not to consume the products indicated in the table below, as they may have been contaminated with the hepatitis A virus.

Product name

Format

Affected lot

“Orange Kombucha”

500ml

And

700ml

Units sold with number 230723 listed at the bottom of the label

“Limothe Kombucha”

“Yellow Kombucha”

“Red Kombucha”

The products that are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until August 8, 2023, at the Marché de solidarité régionale store, located at 843, rue King Ouest, in Sherbrooke , and on its website. The products were packaged in glass bottles. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the words ‘Brouthé’.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ to issue this warning as a precautionary measure. Also, people who have any of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected products show no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, their consumption may represent a health risk. In addition, for the sake of prevention, people who have consumed one of these products purchased between July 26 and August 8, 2023 are invited to contact the Estrie public health team at 819 829-3400, extension 42240.

It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of these foods has been reported to MAPAQ to date.

Additional information

The Ministry publishes various information documents concerning food safety. Interested persons can consult the FoodThis link will open in a new window. section  of the Government of Quebec website. They also have the possibility of registering online to receive, by e-mail, the food recallThis link will open in a new window. press releases published by the Ministry. Finally, it is possible to follow “MAPAQfoods” on Twitter at the following address: www.twitter.com/MAPAQfoodsThis link will open in a new window. .

USA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1171) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. There are currently 39 cases. FDA and state partners have initiated sample collection and testing and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • A new outbreak of E. coli O26 (ref #1165) with 13 cases linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163), the case count has increased from 118 to 121 cases and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), the case count has increased from 34 to 35 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 43 to 68 cases.
  • For the outbreak of hepatitis A virus (ref #1143) linked to frozen strawberries, the advisory was updated on July 20, 2023 to include one additional case. FDA reminds consumers to check their freezers and not eat recalled frozen strawberries.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections: Frozen Strawberries (February 2023)

FDA

Product

Willamette Valley Fruit Recall:

  • Great Value Mixed Fruit 4-lb bags, Great Value Sliced Strawberries 4-lb bags, and Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend 2-lb bags sold at Walmart.
  • Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend 48-oz. bags sold at Costco.
  • Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio 3-lb bags sold at HEB stores.

Wawona Frozen Foods Recall: Wawona brand Organic DayBreak Blend 4-lb. bag with “Use By” dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023 and 10/18/2023.

California Splendor Recall: Kirkland Signature 4-lb. bag Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in certain states with specific lot codes.

Scenic Fruit Recall: Recalled brands include Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets frozen organic strawberries and Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend with specific best by dates.

Additional recall information is available below.

Stores Affected

Great Value Mixed Fruit, Sliced Strawberries, and Antioxidant Fruit Blend were sold in Walmart stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY.

Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend was sold in Costco stores in CO, TX, CA, and AZ.

Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio was sold in HEB stores in TX.

Wawona Frozen Foods distributed recalled packages of Organic DayBreak Blend to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington.

California Splendor supplied recalled product to Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and to two San Diego business centers. Scenic Fruit supplied recalled product to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states, and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.

On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall Made-WithExternal Link Disclaimer brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.

This is not an exhaustive list of products or stores. FDA is continuing to work with the firms to identify potential additional product information.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.

Status

Ongoing

USA – 10 in Washington, California, Oregon and Hawaii linked to Hepatitis A tainted Strawberries

Food Poison Journal

CDC, state public health and regulatory officials, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico, by a common supplier. Frozen organic strawberries may be sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels. Traceback and epidemiological investigations show that people with outbreak-associated cases purchased the same retail brand of frozen organic strawberries prior to becoming ill.

As of July 18, 2023, a total of 10 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from 4 states.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 24, 2022, to June 4, 2023. Ill people range in age from 38 to 64 years, with a median age of 56.5 years. Thirty percent of ill people are female. Of 10 people with available information, 4 (40%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

USA – FDA – Enforcement Reports – Hepatitis A

FDA

Product Description:

Organic Daybreak Blend Brand Name: Wawona Frozen Foods 4 lb. plastic bags – 10 bags per case Keep Frozen Item# 684779 UPC: 0 34742 07244 5 Sold by Costco

Reason for Recall:

Product may contain Hepatitis A

Product Quantity:

9,878 cases

Recall Number:

F-1231-2023

Code Information:

20082D04/BEST IF USED BY 09/23/2023, 20082D05/BEST IF USED BY 09/23/2023, 20082D06/BEST IF USED BY 09/23/2023, 20082D07/BEST IF USED BY 09/23/2023, 20082D08/BEST IF USED BY 09/23/2023, 20088D04/BEST IF USED BY 09/29/2023, 20088D05/BEST IF USED BY 09/29/2023, 20088D06/BEST IF USED BY 09/29/2023, 20088D07/BEST IF USED BY 09/29/2023, 20088D08/BEST IF USED BY 09/29/2023, more…

Classification:

Class I

Product Description:

Great Value Mixed Fruit Pineapple, Strawberries, Peaches and Mango. Item # 107355. Frozen, packed into flexible plastic bags. Net wt. 4lbs (64oz). UPC on retail bag: 0 78742 12423 0. A total of 6 sellable units (4lbs. each) are placed into a case for distribution to retailer. DISTRIBUTED BY: Walmart more…

Reason for Recall:

Potential contamination with Hepatitis A.

Product Quantity:

87,570 bags (4lb. per bag)

Recall Number:

F-1233-2023

Code Information:

Lot Codes: 4024205, 4025305, 4032305, 4033305, 4034305, 4035305. Best By Dates: 07/25/2024, 07/26/2024, 08/02/2024, 08/3/2024, 08/04/2024, and 08/5/2024.

Classification:

Class I

Product Description:

Great Value Mixed Fruit Pineapple, Strawberries, Peaches and Mango. Item # 107355. Frozen, packed into flexible plastic bags. Net wt. 4lbs (64oz). UPC on retail bag: 0 78742 12423 0. A total of 6 sellable units (4lbs. each) are placed into a case for distribution to retailer. DISTRIBUTED BY: Walmart more…

Reason for Recall:

Potential contamination with Hepatitis A.

Product Quantity:

87,570 bags (4lb. per bag)

Recall Number:

F-1233-2023

Code Information:

Lot Codes: 4024205, 4025305, 4032305, 4033305, 4034305, 4035305. Best By Dates: 07/25/2024, 07/26/2024, 08/02/2024, 08/3/2024, 08/04/2024, and 08/5/2024.

Classification:

Class I

Product Description:

Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Pitted Dark Sweet Cherries and Pomegranate Arils. Item # 111097. Frozen, packed into flexible plastic bags. Net wt. 2lbs. 8oz. (40oz). UPC on retail bag: 0 78742 34615 1. A total of 6 sellable units (40oz each) are placed into a case more…

Reason for Recall:

Potential contamination with Hepatitis A.

Product Quantity:

5,694 bags (40oz. per bag)

Recall Number:

F-1234-2023

Code Information:

Lot Code: 4032305 Best By Date: 8/2/2024

Classification:

Class I

Product Description:

Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio Strawberry, Blackberry, Raspberry. Item # 105872. Frozen, packed into flexible plastic bags. Net wt. 3lbs. UPC on retail bag: 8 84038 85143 4. A total of 6 sellable units (3lbs. each) are placed into a case for distribution to retailer. DISTRIBUTED BY: Rader Farms Lynden, WA.

Reason for Recall:

Potential contamination with Hepatitis A.

Product Quantity:

74,376 bags (3lbs. per bag)

Recall Number:

F-1235-2023

Code Information:

Lot Codes: 4153205, 4283202, 4284202, 4058302, 4059302. Best By Dates: 12/02/2023, 04/10/2024, 04/11/2024, 08/28/2024, 08/29/2024.

Classification:

Class I

Product Description:

Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Kale, Spinach. Item # 1399671. Frozen, packed into 8oz. flexible plastic pouches and six 8oz pouches more…

Reason for Recall:

Potential contamination with Hepatitis A.

Product Quantity:

62,380 bags (48oz. per bag)

Recall Number:

F-1236-2023

Code Information:

Lot Codes: 4224202, 4313202, 4314202, 4363202, 4364202, 4017302, 4018302, 4042306, 4043306, 4060306. Best By dates: 02/11/2024, 05/10/2024, 05/11/2024, 06/29/2024, 06/30/2024, 07/18/2024, 07/19/2024, 08/12/2024, 08/13/2024, 08/30/24

Classification:

Class I

USA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated sample collection and analysis.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 36 to 37 cases.
Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
7/6/2023 1163 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
105 Active
6/14/2023 1157 Salmonella
Paratyphi B
var. L(+)
tartrate+
Not Yet
Identified
34 Active
6/14/2023 1159 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
37 Active
5/24/2023 1156 Salmonella
Enteritidis
Raw
Cookie
Dough
See
Advisory
Active
4/26/2023 1152 Not Yet
Identified
Morel
Mushroom
See
Advisory
Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis
A Virus
Frozen
Strawberries
See
Advisory
Active

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), FDA initiated an on-site inspection and sample collection and analysis. The case count has increased from 33 to 34 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 34 to 36 cases.
Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
6/14/2023 1157 Salmonella
Paratyphi B
var. L(+)
tartrate+
Not Yet
Identified
34 Active
6/14/2023 1159 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
36 Active
5/24/2023 1156 Salmonella
Enteritidis
Raw
Cookie
Dough
See
Advisory
Active
4/26/2023 1152 Not Yet
Identified
Morel
Mushroom
See
Advisory
Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis
A Virus
Frozen
Organic
Strawberries
See
Advisory
Active

USA – FDA Alerts Public of Expanding Strawberry Recall Over Concerns of Hepatitis A Exposure

Contagion Live

Last Tuesday, the FDA announced that additional suppliers who provide strawberries to consumer stores such as Walmart and Costco have strawberries that were part of a voluntary recall. This has been an ongoing FDA investigation of hepatitis A infections linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico.

According to the FDA, on June 12, the Willamette Valley Fruit Co. of Salem, Oregon, initiated a voluntary recall of select packages of frozen fruit products containing strawberries. Recalled products include Great Value Mixed Fruit 4-lb, Great Value Sliced Strawberries 4-lb, Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend 2-lb, Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend 48-oz. bag (each bag consists of six 8-oz packages), and Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio 3-lb.

The strawberries were sold to consumer stores Costco, Walmart, and HEB.

On June 7, 2023, Wawona Frozen Foods said it voluntarily recalled year-old packages of its Organic DayBreak Blend distributed to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington from April 15, 2022 to June 26, 2022.

In addition, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego, California, has voluntarily recalled certain lots of 4-lb. bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and at two San Diego business centers. And Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, has performed a voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries, sold to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.

The FDA also reported the latest update on the food-borne outbreak. As of June 14, there has been 9 total cases with 6 in Washington state, 2 in California, and 1 in Oregon. There has been 3 hospitalizations and no deaths. The last reported illness was April 12.

To find more information on this recall and the specific products involved in it and the states where the products were distributed, interested parties can go to this FDA page.