The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their investigation into the Hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Anti-oxidant Blend frozen berry mix sold at Costco stores. Now at least 34 people in five (perhaps six) states have been sickened in this outbreak. The states where the ill people live are Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California. We have information that Hawaii is included in the outbreak states with three ill; we're waiting for an answer from the CDC about their omission. Twenty-five people have been interviewed in this outbreak. Fifteen, or 60%, are women. The age range is 24 to 71 years. Illness onset dates range from 4/29/13 to 5/21/13. Eleven, or 44% of the patients, have been hospitalized in this outbreak. Nineteen … [Read more...]
Costco Berries Recall a No-Go, Townsend Farms Berries Purchasers Left with Unanswered Questions
Updated Recall Information: The recalled product sold at Costco was Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, 3 lb. bag and UPC 0 78414 404448. The recalled codes are located on the back of the package with the words “BEST BY”; followed by the code T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter. All of these letter designations are included in this recall for the lot codes listed above. The recalled product sold at Harris Teeter was Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend, 10 oz. bag UPC 0 72036 70463 4. The correct “Lot” and “best by” codes are as follows: Lot Codes T041613E, T041613C and a “BEST BY” code of 101614. Attorney Fred Pritzker is representing people who contracted Hepatitis A after eating Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend purchased at a Costco … [Read more...]
Townsend Farms Hepatitis Outbreak Puts 9 in Hospital
Townsend Farms brand frozen mixed berries sold at Costco are associated with an outbreak of hepatitis A that has sickened 32 people in six states and put nine people in the hospital. About 1 of every 5 people with hepatitis A requires hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hepatitis A is a contagious viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. Symptoms, which can take two to seven weeks after exposure to develop, include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach pain, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Sometimes, a person who is infected may have no symptoms at all. Others may have mild illness lasting a couple of weeks and some may have severe illness lasting several months. There is no specific treatment for … [Read more...]
Lawsuit for Costco-Townsend Farms Berries Hepatitis A Victims
Hepatitis A lawyers are representing people who contracted Hepatitis A infections after eating Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend purchased at Costco, the berry mix associated with a Hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened people in at least 7 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Since this post was first published there has been a recall of the Costco berries associated with this outbreak. Townsend Farms, Inc., an Oregon company, recalled Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, 3 lb. bag, sold at Costco with UPC 0 78414 404448. The recalled codes are located on the back of the package with the words “BEST BY” followed by the code T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter. The company also recalled product sold at Harris … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Strain in Costco Townsend Farm Berries Found in Middle East
The CDC states that the hepatitis A strain associated with Townsend Farms Anti-oxidant Blend Frozen Berry Mix sold at Costco is rare in the United States. The strain is usually found in North Africa and the Middle East. The berry mix contains strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and pomegrnate seeds (also called arils). The fruit was grown in the U.S., Argentina, Chile, and Turkey. The attorney for Townsend Farms has stated that the pomegranate seeds may be the causal agent in this hepatitis A outbreak. They were sourced from Turkey, which is in the Middle East and is considered part of North Africa. This raises the question about imported food safety. This particular genotype of hepatitis A was linked to an outbreak in Europe in 2013 and an outbreak in British Columbia … [Read more...]
Costco’s Townsend Farms Frozen Berries Hepatitis A: What You Can Do
The FDA has advice on what consumers can do about the hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berries sold at Costco stores. At least 30 people have been sickened in five states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. This outbreak may spread; the number cited is only the first in this investigation. Through interviews with ill patients, the CDC found that 11 of the 17 people interviewed so far ate the product, which has not been recalled. Costco has issued a "safety notice" about the problem with this product. The FDA has started an inspection of the Townsend Farms Oregon processing facilities. And public health officials are developing a protocol to test berries for the hepatitis A virus. The CDC says if you … [Read more...]
Why No Costco Recall of Townsend Farms Berries?
Updated Recall Information: The recalled product sold at Costco was Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, 3 lb. bag and UPC 0 78414 404448. The recalled codes are located on the back of the package with the words “BEST BY”, followed by the code T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter. The recalled product sold at Harris Teeter was Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend, 10 oz. bag UPC 0 72036 70463 4. The correct “Lot” and “best by” codes are as follows: Lot Codes T041613E, T041613C and a “BEST BY” code of 101614. Updated Lawsuit Information: Lawsuits against Costco and Townsend Farms have been filed. There are now over 60 people diagnosed with Hepatitis A who are part of this outbreak, and health officials predict that the outbreak will grow. You can … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A from Costco Berries, Sickened Customers Contact Lawyers
The lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have been fielding calls all day from people with questions about hepatitis A from Costco berries. Pritzker and his team are representing Costco customers who contracted hepatitis A after eating Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend, a berry mix with pomegranate seeds. This product has been implicated in a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened over 60 people in 7 states. Townsend Farms issued a Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend recall on June 3. "Many people contacting us are unaware that a hepatitis A vaccination can prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure to a contaminated product," said Pritzker. "We want consumers to know that they need to get to their doctors as soon as possible to find out if they need a vaccination." … [Read more...]
Townsend Farms Organic Frozen Berries Suspected Source of Hepatitis A Outbreak in AZ, CA, CO, NM and NV
Townsend Farms Organic Anti-oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix is the suspected source of a hepatitis A outbreak in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. As of May 31, 2013, 30 people have been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A that may be linked to this outbreak. These numbers are expected to change as the investigation continues. So far investigators have interviewed 19 of the hepatitis victims. Of these, 12 (63%) are women, all are from 25 – 71 years old, all began showing illness from 4/29/2013 – 5/17/2013. Nine of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized. Hepatitis A can cause liver damage and be fatal. Eleven of the victims reported eating ‘Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend,’ a frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix. All of them … [Read more...]
Townsend Farms Attorney Says Pomegranate Seeds Caused Costco Hepatitis A Outbreak
Townsend Farms frozen berries sold at Costco have been associated with an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, according to the CDC. Investigators have traced back the source of the outbreak to pomegranate seeds from Turkey that are in the Townsend Farms berry mix sold at Costco, according to Townsend Farms attorney William E. Gaar and the CDC. Preliminary studies of specimens from two people sickened in this outbreak suggest the outbreak strain of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is genotype 1B. This strain is rarely seen in the Americas but circulates in the North Africa and Middle East regions, according to the CDC. This same genotype was identified in a 2013 outbreak in Europe linked to frozen berries and another 2012 outbreak in British Columbia … [Read more...]
