The CDC has updated its investigation into the multistate outbreak of Hepatitis A infections potentially associated with "Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend" frozen berry and pomegranate mix. Now 99 people are sick in 8 states. Thirty-eight people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. There have ben no deaths. As of June 11, 2013, people are sick with acute hepatitis in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington state. Based on epidemiological evidence of 73 cases, 47, or 64% of ill persons are women. The age range is from 2 to 87 years; most of those sick are adults. Illness onset dates range from 3/16/13 to 6/1/13. Fifty-two percent of ill persons have been hospitalized. And 86% of ill persons reported eating the frozen berry and … [Read more...]
Hepititis A Lawyers File Lawsuit against Costco and Townsend Farms
Attorney Fred Pritzker of Pritzker Hageman law firm is the lead lawyer in a lawsuit filed against Townsend Farms and Costco Wholesale Corporation on behalf of an Arizona man (Plaintiff). He allegedly contracted hepatitis A from Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend mixed berries with pomegranate seeds. The suit was filed in the United District Court for the District of Arizona (Case 2:13-cv-01181-ROS). The Pritzker Hageman law firm is also representing hepatitis A victims in other states who are part of the multistate hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend sold at Costco. To date, the CDC has confirmed outbreak cases in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. "This morning the CDC updated its outbreak … [Read more...]
Costco-Townsend Farms Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows, Lawsuits Filed
The Costco-Townsend Farms hepatitis A outbreak continues to grow. There are now 87 CDC-confirmed cases of acute hepatitis A infections that may be linked to eating Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry mix sold at Costco stores. The CDC numbers include people sickened in eight states: Arizona, California Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. To date, lawsuits have been filed in Arizona and California. The CDC has epidemiological information on 68 of the outbreak victims. These people answered questions about their illness and the food they ate in the weeks leading up to their illness. What the CDC found was that of these 68, 45 (66%) are women, the ages of those sickened are from 2 – 84 years, and 46 (70%) reported eating “Townsend Farms Organic … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Cases Decline Despite Townsend Farms Outbreak
The nationwide Hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry mix has grabbed headlines in the last few weeks. At least 79 people have been sickened in this outbreak, and 30 people are in the hospital as a result of the infection. But cases of Hepatitis A have been declining in the United States in the past 30 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that Hepatitis A illnesses have declined by 95% since 1995 when the preventative vaccine against the virus first became available. In 2010, the incidence rate was 0.6 cases per 100,000 people, the lowest rate ever. Children are routinely vaccinated against the virus, as they are against many other diseases. And the government recommends that many adults receive the vaccination, … [Read more...]
California has 33 Cases in Townsend Farms Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Townsend Farms hepatitis A outbreak has sickened at least 79 people nationwide. The outbreak is growing daily. The state of California has at least 33 of the outbreak cases. Fourteen people have been hospitalized, which is an unusually high number. Other states included in this outbreak are Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. The state has published an info sheet with information known to date about the affected products along with the retail distribution list of those products. The recalled products were sold at Costco stores under the name "Townsend Farms Brand Organic Antioxidant Blend" and at Harris Teeter stores under the name "Harris Teeter Brand Antioxidant Berry Blend." The Harris Teeter product was not sold in California, but was sold in … [Read more...]
Costco Hepatitis A Lawsuit Update
The first Costo Hepatitis A lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 51-year-old Lakewood, California, resident. Her lawyers filed the suit against both Townsend Farms and Costco. According to the lawsuit, She purchased the Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend berries from Costco and ate them before she got sick. She first experienced Hepatitis A symptoms on May 22, 2013, when she began to experience fatigue, chills, achiness and loss of appetite. The tell-tale sign of Hepatitis A, dark urine and yellowing eyes and skin, appeared over the next few days, according to the lawsuit. By the time she saw her doctor, she had severe liver inflammation and was hospitalized, where she was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. The Hepatitis A lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California, Los … [Read more...]
Townsend Farms Hepatitis A Outbreak Updated by CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the Hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix. The case count now stands at 61, with 11 people hospitalized. The product has been recalled. It was sold at Costco stores and at Harris Teeter stores under the Harris Teeter name. The patient age range is from 2 to 71 years. The illness onset dates range from 4/29/13 to 5/27/13. Twenty-two of the thirty persons interviewed so far ate the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend before becoming ill. Twenty-two people purchased this product from Costco markets. No cases have been identified yet that bought the product at Harris Teeter stores. Hepatitis A is divided into seven different genotypes; 80% of the … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Investigation of Hepatitis A Outbreak Associated with Townsend Farms Berries
The FDA has updated its investigation into the outbreak of Hepatitis A associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend Frozen Berries. The product was recalled on June 3, 2013. No other Townsend Farms products, either frozen or fresh, are covered by this recall or linked to the illness outbreak at this time. The product was sold at Costco warehouse stores in 3 pound bags with UPC number 0 78414 404448. The best by dates on the recalled products are from T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter. All letter designations are included in the recall. The same product was sold at Harris Teeter stores from April 19 until May 7, 2013, under the name Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Blend. It was packaged in 10 ounce bags with UPC number 0 72036 70463 4. Lot codes are … [Read more...]
Colorado has 12 Cases of Hepatitis A Associated with Townsend Farms Berries
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 … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Hepatitis A Outbreak Associated with Townsend Farms Berries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the Hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxdant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix. Now 49 people are sick with acute Hepatitis A in seven states. And eleven people have been hospitalized. The numbers are most likely going to change every day. The ill persons are in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, and California. Twenty-six people have been interviewed. Sixty-percent, or 15 patients, are women. The patient age range is from 2 to 71 years. Illness onset dates range from 4/29/13 to 5/24/13. Nineteen people, or 76%, reported eating "Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend" frozen berry and pomegranate mix before becoming ill. Nineteen people bought this product at Costco … [Read more...]
