FDA discovers more frozen strawberry products linked to hepatitis A outbreak.

June 14, 2023: The FDA has made progress in investigating a hepatitis A outbreak by identifying additional brands of frozen strawberries that may be contaminated. As a result, five new products have been recalled.

The newly identified frozen strawberry products were sold at Walmart, Costco, and HEB stores under the Great Value and Rader Farms brands. Willamette Valley Fruit distributed these products and has taken steps to recall them.

The outbreak has affected nine individuals across Washington, Oregon, and California as of June 13. Three affected individuals have required hospitalization, although no deaths have been reported.

The recalled Great Value products include

• frozen mixed fruit in 4-pound bags,
• sliced strawberries in 4-pound bags, and
• antioxidant fruit blend in 2-pound bags.

Great Value products subject to recall were sold in Walmart stores across multiple states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, and many more.

Rader Farms products subject to recall include the organic Fresh Start smoothie blend in 48-ounce bags sold at Costco and the organic berry trio in 3-pound bags sold at HEB stores.

The organic Fresh Start smoothie blend was sold at Costco stores in Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona, while the organic berry trio was sold at HEB stores in Texas.

This is not the first round of recalls related to the outbreak. All previous recalls involved frozen strawberries from the same growing region in Mexico.

Affected brands include Wawona Frozen Foods, California Splendor, Scenic Fruit, Trader Joe’s, and Meijer.

The FDA works closely with the companies involved to identify any additional products that may be linked to the outbreak.

Please refer to the FDA’s official update for a comprehensive list of recalled products and accompanying photos.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can be prevented through vaccination. Individuals who have consumed frozen strawberries and are experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A should seek medical attention and inform healthcare providers about their potential exposure.

Hepatitis A symptoms can vary, with adults more likely to experience them than children. Symptoms typically appear between two and seven weeks after infection, with an average of 28-30 days. They usually last less than two months but, in some cases, can persist for up to six months.

Symptoms may include yellowing of the skin or eyes, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, fever, dark urine, light-colored stools, diarrhea, joint pain, and fatigue.

It’s important to note that individuals can spread the infection even without exhibiting symptoms. Additionally, transmission can occur up to two weeks before symptoms manifest.