The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports that there are 12 cases of hepatitis A associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Frozen Berry Blend purchased from Costco stores. Nationwide, there are 49 people sick with acute hepatitis A caused by the virus.
The 12 patients live in eight counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, and Jefferson. There are seven states reporting cases; the others are Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.
Townsend Farms has issued a recall of the product, sold in 3 pound bags with UPC number 0 78414 404448. The product contains cherries, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, raspberries, and strawberries. It was sold at Costco and Harris Teeter stores. If you have this product in your freezer, do not eat it. Even if some of the product has been eaten, the rest should be discarded according to government officials. You can save the product just in case; double bag it and store it in the freezer. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the product.
Public health officials say the risk of contracting hepatitis A from eating this mix is low, but if you have eaten any, contact your medical provider to ask about immunization and if you are susceptible to this illness. A vaccine works only if you receive it within 14 days of exposure. After that time, monitor yourself for symptoms of hepatitis A, which include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, dark urine, jaundice (yellow eyes or skin), pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, diarrhea, dark urine, and clay colored stools.
