More strawberries sold at Walmart, Costco, HEB recalled over possible hepatitis A contamination
Hepatitis A virus strain identical to one that led to outbreak in 2022 that was also linked to strawberries from Mexico
Oregon-based Willamette Valley Fruit Co. issued a recall for packages of frozen fruit sold at Walmart, Costco and HEB stores around the nation – the latest company to do so amid an outbreak of hepatitis A infections.
The select packages Great Value and Radar Farms frozen fruit contain strawberries that were grown in Mexico and have the potential to be contained with hepatitis A, according to a recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The notice came just after California-based Wawona Frozen Foods issued a recall for year-old bags of frozen fruit that were shipped to Costco stores.
The FDA has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as with other state public health and regulatory officials, to investigate the multi-state outbreak of infections that started in November 2022 and have been linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from certain farms in Baja California, Mexico.
To date, nine people have fallen ill in three states, including three people who have been hospitalized.
The hepatitis A virus strain in this outbreak is genetically identical to the strain that caused the hepatitis A outbreak in 2022 that left over a dozen people hospitalized, according to the CDC.
Shopping carts outside a Walmart location in Chicago on April 12, 2023. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via / Getty Images)
The frozen fruit in the latest recall hasn't been tied to any illnesses. However, consumers are still urged to discard or return the products.
The affected Great Value Sliced Strawberries, Great Value Mixed Fruit and Great Value Antioxidant Blend packages were distributed to select Walmart stores in over 30 states between Jan. 24, 2023, to June 8, 2023.
FROZEN FRUIT RECALLED OVER RISK OF HEPATITIS A CONTAMINATION
The recalled Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend packages were distributed to Costco Wholesale stores in Colorado, Texas, California and Arizona between Oct. 3, 2022, and June 8, 2023. The Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio packages were distributed to HEB stores in Texas between July 18, 2022, to June 8, 2023.
Federal health officials have been working to identify additional firms that may be affected in the latest outbreak given that the contaminated strawberries may be sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brands, the CDC said.
According to the FDA, hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is caused by exposure to the hepatitis A virus.
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Illnesses will usually start between 15 and 50 days after consuming food or water that has been contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, according to the CDC. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine as well as pale stool. However, in some instances, children under the age of 6 may be asymptomatic.
A consumer shops in a Costco store on Sept. 28, 2021, in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Infection can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. In rare cases, hepatitis A infections can progress to liver failure in those with a pre-existing severe illness or who are immune compromised.