Scenic Fruit Company of Oregon is recalling 61,092 bags of Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels because they have the potential to be contaminated with the Hepatitis A virus. No illnesses are currently associated with the seeds, and product testing shows no presence of the virus in the seeds, but this recall is occurring because the pomegranates are imported from Turkey.
A multistate hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix is ongoing at this time. The pomegranate seeds in that product were also imported from Turkey. And the type of hepatitis A in the Townsend Farms product is common in the Middle East and Africa.
The product was shipped from February 2013 through May 2013 to UNFI distribution centers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington state. The recalled seeds may have been further distributed to stores in other states.
The product is Woodstock Organic Pomegranate Kernels, sold in eight ounce (227 gram) resealable plastic pouches. The UPC number is 0 42563 01628 9. The lots that are recalled include C 0129 (A,B, or C) 035 with a best by date of 02/04/2015; C 0388 (A,B, or C) 087 with a best by date of 3/28/2015; and C 0490 (A, B, or C) 109 with a best by date of 04/19/2015.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting for several months. Illness occurs within 15 to 50 days of exposure. Within 14 days of exposure, a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination can prevent illness. In the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak, almost half of the patients have been hospitalized.
If you ate or touched this product, consult a health care professional to see if you should receive a vaccine, and how to monitor yourself for signs of the disease. If you bought this product, dispose of it immediately and wash your hands thoroughly. For questions and more information, contact the Scenic Fruit Company at 877-927-3434 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CT.
