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 CORE Table Updated: Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
The FDA Core Outbreak Investigation Table was updated, with ten active investigations. The FDA states that the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 23 people is linked to big Olaf ice cream. The quote is, "For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, a product linked to illnesses is ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery, located in Florida." There is still no recall on the FDA recall page about this ice cream, but according to news reports Big Olaf started recalling the ice cream over the weekend. The CDC reiterated their warning to consumers about the ice cream on July 8, 2022. Anyone who has this ice cream in their freezer should discard it immediately, even if some has been consumed and no one is sick. Listeria bacteria can cluster in tiny clumps and may not be … [Read more...]
What Are the Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks in the U.S.?
What are the current food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S.? There are currently four solved active outbreaks right now, and there are also three unidentified Salmonella outbreaks, one mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and one unidentified Listeria monocytogenes outbreak on the FDA and USDA Investigation Tables. The only clue in those outbreaks is the one associated with a USDA-inspected food; that Salmonella Muenchen outbreak may be linked to a beef product. Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak This outbreak, which is linked to FreshKampo and HEB organic strawberries, has sickened at least 18 people in three states. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized. Anyone who purchased those brands between March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022 and froze them for … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Outbreak Table; More Illnesses Added
The FDA updates CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. More illnesses have been added to two mystery Salmonella outbreaks and one mystery Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. And a new "adverse event series" that is associated with a "frozen food product," has been added. That product is not identified, but it is most likely the Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leeks Crumble product, which is associated with almost 500 adverse events and has been recalled. There are currently 10 active outbreak investigations. The frozen food outbreak has 107 adverse event reports listed. A recall has been issued, traceback has begun, an on-site inspection has been conducted, and sample collections have been analyzed. Yesterday Fresh Harvest issued a statement saying that the FDA testing has found no pathogens … [Read more...]
One More Probable Hepatitis A Strawberries Case Added
One more probable hepatitis A strawberries case has been added to the investigation into the outbreak linked to that fruit, according to the FDA. That person has been hospitalized. We do not know where that person lives, or the age range of any of the patients. We do know that the last illness onset date was May 6, 2022. And the recall of Urban Remedy Tea that was reported on June 10, 2022 is now considered a market withdrawal, since that product was not made with the recalled strawberries. The strawberries were imported from Baja, California and branded as FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier. The berries that caused these illnesses were purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022. They are obviously past their shelf life, but some consumers may have processed and … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows with 13 Hospitalized
The strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has now hospitalized 13 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighteen people are sick in three states, an increase of one more patient since the outbreak was announced on May 28, 2022. The CDC recommends that anyone who bought fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB from the period of March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022, and then froze those strawberries discard them immediately. If you aren't sure if you bought those brands, throw them away. If you ate those strawberries within the last two weeks, talk to your doctor about getting a hepatitis A vaccine. That vaccine is effective only if given within the first two weeks after exposure. The case count by state is: California (16), Minnesota … [Read more...]
Urban Remedy Strawberry Hibiscus Rose Tea Recalled For Hepatitis A
UPDATE: This product was not made with the recalled strawberries, so this is now a market withdrawal. Urban Remedy Strawberry Hibiscus Rose Tea is being recalled for possible hepatitis A contamination. No illnesses are associated with the consumption of this particular product. The recalling firm is Urban Remedy. Urban Remedy contracts with Youngstown Grape Distributors to co-manufacture this product. The recalled product is Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic Strawberry Hibiscus Rose that is packaged in 12 ounce resealable plastic bottles. The lot number for this product is 1232. The best by date that is stamped on the product label is 7/17/2022 (July 17, 2022). And the UPC number on this product is 813377025831. The tea may contain fresh organic strawberries from … [Read more...]
How Are Strawberries Contaminated with Hepatitis A?
How are strawberries contaminated with hepatitis A? There is a hepatitis A outbreak in the United States that is linked to organic strawberries that were imported from Baja California in Mexico. The case count by state is: California (15), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). Because there have been so many outbreaks linked to berries, the FDA implemented a sampling program for domestic and imported frozen berries in 2018. Two hepatitis A outbreaks linked to frozen strawberries sickened more than 300 people in the United States in 2013 and 2016. The food supply is global, so many produce items, which are usually eaten uncooked, can be contaminated with pathogens like hepatitis A because the infrastructure in other countries may be not as robust as in the U.S. The CDC says that … [Read more...]
Minnesota Strawberry Hepatitis Outbreak Sickens One, 16 in CA and ND
A Minnesota Strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has sickened one person in that state, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, and has also sickened 16 other people in California and North Dakota. Twelve people are hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high hospitalization rate. The person who lives in Minnesota was not hospitalized and has recovered. The fresh, organic strawberries are branded FreshKampo and HB. They were sold at various stores around the country from March 5, 2022 to April 25, 2022. The Minnesota patient purchased the strawberries from Mississippi Market on March 21, 2022. The berries were labeled FreshKampo. While the strawberries are no longer available for sale, some people may have frozen them for later use or made recipes that were frozen. … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Strawberries Imported From Baja California in Mexico
The hepatitis A strawberries that are linked to an outbreak in the United States and Canada were imported from Baja, California, a state in Northern Mexico. The berries are branded as FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier, according to the FDA. The berries were for sale between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022. They are no longer available for sale because they are past their shelf life. The berries may have been sold at these retailers, and may have also been sold at others: HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trade Joe's, Walmart, Weis Markets, and WinCo Foods. The FDA is concerned because consumers may have frozen the strawberries. The hepatitis A virus is not destroyed by freezing. If you did buy these berries and preserved them, do not eat them. If you aren't … [Read more...]
