Some frozen strawberries available at Trader Joe’s, Costco and other stores should not be eaten because of the risk of hepatitis A, the US Food and Drug Administration warned consumers this week.
The FDA alert includes this photo of some of the brands and packaging.
fda.gov
Several Kirkland Signature organic strawberries, Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend and other brands were voluntarily recalled by two suppliers this week as the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigate an outbreak linked to the fruit.
An outbreak of hepatitis A in Washington state has hospitalized two people and infected up to five people, the FDA said in an alert on its site. The agency said patients reported eating frozen organic strawberries before they got sick. The infections were linked to strawberries imported from several farms in Baja California, Mexico, the FDA said.
“Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not sell, serve, or eat recalled frozen strawberries. These recalled products should be returned or discarded,” the alert said. “If consumers purchased the recalled frozen organic strawberries and ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should consult their healthcare professional immediately.”
Other stores that carry frozen strawberries include Aldi and PCC Community Markets, and other brands include Made With and Simply Nature organic strawberries.
Specific details about stores, brands, lots, best buy dates and more are available at the FDA’s alert.
The two suppliers, California Splendor and Good Fruithas also released recall information, such as it is Aldi, Costco, PCC Community Markets and Trader Joe’s. They all say that hepatitis A has not been detected in their products but that the recalls are being made “out of an abundance of caution.” Made With did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
The FDA said the strain of hepatitis A found in Washington state is the same as the strain that caused it an outbreak in 2022.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver, an organ responsible for filtering blood and other vital functions. Although most people recover completely (and many people in the US have been vaccinated against the virus), symptoms can last for weeks to months and can cause more serious illness in some people.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, jaundice, nausea, pale stools, and vomiting, the FDA says. In some cases, symptoms may be vague, especially in children under 6 years of age.
CNET’s Jessica Rendall contributed to this report.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider about any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.