The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a multi-state outbreak of Hepatitis A that is potentially linked to fresh organic strawberries.
Officials warned organic strawberries branded FreshKampo and HEB purchased between March 5 and April 25, 2022, are potentially linked to the outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention FDA and Canada’s Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, are working with state and local partners in the investigation.
“Currently, the potentially affected FreshKampo and HEB products are past shelf life. People who purchased FreshKampo and HEB fresh organic strawberries between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022, and then froze those strawberries for later consumption should not eat them,” the FDA said in a statement.
The fresh strawberries are distributed nationwide and sold in the following retailers, but not limited to Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis Markets, and WinCo Foods.
The FDA reported that traceback investigations show California, Minnesota, and Canada having purchased fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB before becoming ill. There have been 17 hepatitis cases identified in California, Minnesota, and North Dakota, which have led to 12 hospitalizations, FDA said.
People became ill between March 28 and April 30.
The potentially affected product is past its shelf life. The FDA recommends consumers should throw away their strawberries if they are unsure which brand was purchased. The FDA said if consumers bought the affected brands between March 5 and April 25, 2022, consumed the berries in the past two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis A should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed.
PEP s recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to the 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 does not require PEP.
According to the CDC, Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that can cause liver disease. A hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.
The FDA said that Hepatitis A can progress to liver failure and death in rare cases, particularly among people with pre-existing health conditions.
Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. The FDA said that in some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.
Symptoms of the illness usually occur within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
