Scenic Fruit Company recalled frozen organic strawberries and its tropical blend product due to a possible link to a hepatitis A outbreak.
The company produces these products nationwide, including at retailers such as Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe's.
The recall was initiated after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that certain brands of frozen organic strawberries sold at various retailers, including Trader Joe's and Costco, may be linked to the hepatitis A outbreak.
The FDA has confirmed that five people have been sickened with confirmed or probable cases, with two requiring hospitalization. The outbreak included three confirmed and two probable cases in Washington State.
Scenic Fruit Company recalls frozen organic strawberries
ABC reported that the FDA began investigating the outbreak and traced it back to imported frozen organic strawberries from farms in Baja California and Mexico sold to multiple retailers under different brand names.
The hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses this year is identical genetically to the strain that caused the outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections in 2022.
The previous outbreak last year was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from the same farms in Baja California and sold at various retailers.
As part of the ongoing investigation, California Splendor and Scenic Fruit have voluntarily recalled certain lots of frozen strawberries.
California Splendor has issued a recall of 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Hawaii and Los Angeles and two business centers in San Diego.
Customers who purchased the product from these locations are advised to return it to the store and receive a refund.
Scenic Fruit Company has recalled certain frozen organic strawberries sold to Aldi, KeHE, Costco, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states and frozen organic tropical blends sold to Trader Joe's nationwide.
Recall on frozen fruits for consumer safety
According to the FDA, Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, which can occur through contaminated food.
The severity of the illness can vary from a mild sickness lasting a few weeks to a serious condition lasting several months.
In rare cases, individuals with pre-existing severe illnesses or compromised immune systems may experience liver failure due to the infection.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A typically manifest within 15 to 50 days of exposure and include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine, and pale stool.
The Hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent illness if administered within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food.
According to NBC, the company has also ceased production and distribution of the products as the FDA, and the company continues investigating what caused the problem.
The FDA urged consumers to stop consuming the recalled products and return them to their local store for a refund.
Although hepatitis A has not been detected in these products, the company recalled them out of an abundance of caution.
If an individual has consumed the recalled frozen organic strawberries within the past two weeks, there are several important considerations to remember.
Firstly, if the individual has not received a vaccination against hepatitis A, they may be susceptible to contracting an infection.
Secondly, if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with a hepatitis A infection, such as fatigue, nausea, or abdominal pain, it is recommended that they seek immediate medical attention.
This could involve contacting their healthcare provider or visiting a nearby health department to receive testing and treatment if required.
