• Community Events
  • Home
  • Employment
  • Local
    • Central San Diego
    • North County
    • East County
    • South Bay
    • Northeastern
    • Riverside County
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Television
    • Art
    • Theater
    • Film
    • Events
    • Theme Parks
    • Podcast/Radio
    • Museums
    • Books
  • Business
  • National
  • Politics
  • Science & Technology
    • Computer
    • Science
    • Space
  • Sports
  • Environment
    • Clean Air
    • Climate change
    • Land
    • Ocean
    • Pollution
    • Recycling
  • Health
    • Health Business
    • Health Education
    • Medical
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Senior Life
    • Society

San Diego County News

Independent publication serving San Diego County

FDA, CDC investigate an outbreak of hepatitis A virus linked to organic strawberries

May 30, 2022 By sdcnews

Photo by Gina Yarbrough/San Diego County News

By SDCN Editor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A that is possibly linked to two brands of organic strawberries that were sold at several retailers in the U.S. and Canada.

A total of 17 illnesses linked to the strawberries were reported in the U.S., according to the FDA. 

The agency’s local partners are also investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada potentially linked to fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo and H-E-B, purchased between March 5 and April 25.

The traceback investigations show that cases in California, Minnesota, and Canada report having purchased fresh organic strawberries prior to becoming ill. Illness onset dates range from March 28 to April 30.

“The potentially affected FreshKampo and H-E-B products are past shelf life, according to the FDA. Consumers who purchased FreshKampo and H-E-B fresh organic strawberries between March 5 and April 25, 2022, and then froze those strawberries for later consumption should not eat them,” the FDA said in a statement posted on their website.

The products were sold at the following retailers, including, but not limited to Aldi, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis Markets, and WinCo Foods.

HEB grocery, a supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas released a statement regarding the outbreak:

“All strawberries sold at H-E-B are safe. No illnesses from strawberries related to the FDA investigation have been reported at H-E-B or in Texas. The FDA is conducting an investigation into organic strawberries sold between March 5 and April 25, 2022. H-E-B has not received or sold organic strawberries from the supplier under investigation since April 16.”

The FDA said consumers who purchased FreshKampo or H-E-B Organic strawberries between those dates should throw them away or return the products to the place of purchase.

Anyone unsure of what brand of strawberries they purchased, or where they purchased them from prior to freezing the fruit, should throw them away, the FDA said.

Consumers who purchased the organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB between March 5 and April 25 ate those berries in the last 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 is 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.

It is recommended that consumers contact their healthcare provider if they think they may have symptoms of a hepatitis A infection after eating these fresh organic strawberries, or if they believe that they have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks.

40

SHARES
Share on Facebook
Tweet
Follow us

Comments

comments

Filed Under: National Tagged With: National


Support Independent Journalism



Trending

  • Poway fire contained at 25 acres
  • County health extends water contact closure to Imperial Beach shoreline
  • Man arrested on suspicion of arson at the Buena Vista Lagoon
  • Brush fire at Buena Vista Lagoon forced evacuations in Carlsbad
  • CAL FIRE hits peak staffing for wildfire this summer

Advertisement

Good Sam Travel Assist

Advertisement

Start LLC today at incorporate.com

Education

UC San Diego Extended Studies identifies top 10 jobs post COVID-19 pandemic

San … [Read More...]

Environment

Oceanside enacts Level 2 Drought Reduction actions for residents and businesses

By … [Read More...]

Science & Technology

A quarter of the world’s internet users rely on infrastructure at high risk of attack

By … [Read More...]

Advertisement

Independence Day Savings! Save up to $25◊ off our Fees on Flights Use Coupon USA25.

Advertisement

Stacy Adams

Advertisement

Summer Membership offer

Advertisement

Naturepedic

Categories

  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Community Events
  • Contact Us
  • Employment
  • Private Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow @SanCounty

Privacy Policy

Terms of service

Copyright © 2022 San Diego County News