The FDA is working to improve the safety of fresh and frozen berries in the wake of hepatitis A and norovirus outbreaks linked to those items. An ongoing hepatitis A outbreak linked to fresh organic strawberries has sickened at least 18 people in three states, and a hepatitis A outbreak in 2020 linked to blackberries sickened 20 people in seven states. In the United States, there have been three hepatitis A outbreaks and three norovirus outbreak linked to frozen berries from 1990 to 2016, and since 2011, there have been three hepatitis A outbreaks linked to fresh berries. Globally, from 1983 to 2018, there were 50 outbreaks associated with frozen berries, with 36 caused by norovirus and 14 by hepatitis. While freezing preserves berries, it does not inactive viruses. The berries … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Fresh Market Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
The FDA has published its final report on its investigation into the Fresh Market Blackberries hepatitis A outbreak. The illnesses are linked to fresh, conventionally grown (non organic) blackberries purchased from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Woodman's Market grocery stores. As of February 19, 2020, 20 people in 7 states were sickened. Since the last update on December 12, 2019, two more illnesses have been reported. One of those patients lives in Pennsylvania, a state that had not include in the case count. The case count by state is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), Pennsylvania (1), and Wisconsin (6). The last illness onset date was November 15, 2019. Eleven people were hospitalized because they were so ill. While most people have a … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Ends With 20 Ill
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has ended after sickening 20 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 2 more illnesses since the last update on December 11, 2019. The case count by state as of February 19, 2020 is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), Pennsylvania (1), and Wisconsin (6). The CDC update did not provide the current case count numbers by state, but the FDA did. Pennsylvania was added to the state list, and one more ill person in Wisconsin was added. Illness onset dates ranged from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range was from 14 to 72 years. Of 19 people who gave information about their illness to investigators, 11, or … [Read more...]
FDA Info on Fresh Thyme Woodman’s Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
The FDA has released information on the Fresh Thyme Woodman's blackberries hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened 18 people in 6 states, including Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The outbreak is potentially linked to fresh, conventional (non-organic) blackberries sold at the grocery stores Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Woodman's Market in the upper midwest. The case counts were updated to include 18 illnesses from 16 from the last update on December 3, 2019 , with the most recent illness onset date on November 15, 2019. Ten people have been hospitalized. The FDA is urging consumers not to eat any fresh, conventional blackberries if they were purchased from 9/9/19 and 9/30/19 from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores located in Iowa, … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to 18 Sick
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has grown again to include 18 sick in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases are potentially linked to conventionally grown blackberries sold at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores and Woodman's Market stores in several states from September 9, 2019 through September 30, 2019. The case count by state is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), and Wisconsin (5). Illness onset dates range from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Ten people, or 59% of those interviewed, have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage for a hepatitis A outbreak. This outbreak could still grow, since hepatitis A … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 16 in 6 States
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 16 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has found that those sickened in this outbreak ate fresh, conventionally grown blackberries from that store chain. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (2), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (4), and Missouri (1). The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Illness onset dates ranges from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. Of 15 people who gave information about their health to the government, 9, or 60%, have been hospitalized. That is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. Of people who were interviewed, 15 out of 15 said they ate fresh … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. The CDC recommends that anyone who bought fresh conventionally grown blackberries at any Fresh Thyme Farmers Market location during the time frame of September 9 through September 30, 2019 not eat them. As of November 20, 2019, there are eleven people ill in three states. The case count by state is: Indiana (2), Nebraska (6), and Wisconsin (3). Illness onset dates range from October 15, 2019 to November 5, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Fifty-five percent of patients have been hospitalized. In interviews, patients answered questions about the foods they ate before they got sick. All of … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries Associated With Hepatitis A Outbreak
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries are associated with a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. Six of those people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a grocery store chain with facilities across the Midwest. The people who are sick live in Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The blackberries in question are conventionally grown, not organic. Epidemiological evidence shows that patients ate fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores. While patients are sick in three states, traceback information shows that the berries come from a distribution center that ships the blackberries to Fresh Thyme stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, … [Read more...]
