A recent outbreak of hepatitis A has been linked to strawberries sold at Kroger, Aldi, Walmart, Trader’s Joe’s and other grocery stores across the country.
Here is the information from the FDA, which was updated on May 28, 2022:
The FDA, along with the CDC, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, state and local partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and in Canada potentially related to fresh organic strawberries under the brand name FreshKampo and HEB, purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022.
Potentially affected FreshKampo and HEB products have now become obsolete. People who bought fresh organic strawberries FreshKampo and HEB between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022 and then froze these strawberries for later consumption should not eat them. These products were sold to the following retailers, including, but not limited to:
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Aldi
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HEB
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Kroger
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Safeway
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Sprouts Farmers Market
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Trader Joe’s
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Walmart
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Weis Markets
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WinCo Foods
If you are unsure of which brand you bought, when you bought the strawberries, or where you bought them before freezing, the strawberries should be discarded.
Announcements
Epidemiological and follow-up data show that fresh organic strawberries sold as FreshKampo and HEB brands purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022 are a likely cause of disease in this outbreak. Tracking research shows that cases in California, Minnesota and Canada report that you bought fresh organic strawberries under the brand name FreshKampo or HEB before you got sick. The onset of the disease is from March 28 to April 30, 2022.
As this research is ongoing, additional products may be included. More information will be provided in this notice as it becomes available.
Recommendation
Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not sell, serve or eat fresh organic strawberries under the brand name FreshKampo or HEB if they were purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022. People who bought fresh strawberries and then frozen them for later. consumption should not be eaten. They have to be thrown away. Currently, the potentially affected product has exceeded its useful life. If you are unsure of which brand you bought, when you bought the strawberries, or where you bought them before freezing, the strawberries should be discarded.
Announcements
If consumers bought fresh organic strawberries under the brand name FreshKampo or HEB between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022, they ate these berries for the past two weeks and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A. , should consult with your healthcare provider immediately to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure. People with pre-vaccination tests for hepatitis A or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP.
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Announcements
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a hepatitis A infection after eating these fresh organic strawberries, or if you think you have eaten these strawberries for the past two weeks.
Case count
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Total diseases in the US: 17
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Hospitalizations: 12
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Deaths: 0
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Last onset of the disease: April 30, 2022
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States with cases: CA (15), MN (1), ND (1)
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Product distribution: nationwide
Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that can cause liver disease. A hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. In rare cases, especially for people with a pre-existing health condition or people with weakened immune systems, hepatitis A infections can lead to liver failure and death.
Most hepatitis A infections are caused by unknown causes or by close contact with an infected person; however, some hepatitis A infections are caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Food and water contamination can occur when an infected food handler prepares food without proper handwashing hygiene.
Announcements
Symptoms
The disease usually appears 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools. In some cases, especially in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.
People with hepatitis A infections usually recover completely in a week or two; however, in rare cases hepatitis A can become chronic and cause a recurrent infection. Chronic hepatitis A infection can lead to more serious health problems, such as liver failure and death.
Due to the severity of the disease, people should consult their healthcare provider if they suspect that they have developed symptoms that resemble a hepatitis A infection.
Risk groups
All people are susceptible to hepatitis A infection; however, people who have had hepatitis A before or who have been vaccinated are immune to hepatitis A infection. Learn more about people at risk for foodborne illness.
Announcements
Treatment and prevention of hepatitis A
Because hepatitis A virus infections can have serious health consequences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to unvaccinated individuals who have consumed food or contaminated water in the two weeks following exposure.
PEP consists of:
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Hepatitis A vaccine for people between 1 and 40 years of age
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Hepatitis A virus-specific immunoglobulin (GI) for people outside this age range, but the hepatitis A vaccine can be replaced if no GI is available.
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People with pre-vaccination tests or who can confirm a previous hepatitis A disease do not require PEP.
If you are not sure if you have been vaccinated against hepatitis A, contact your healthcare provider to check your immunization records. If vaccinated, no further action is required. If you have never received the hepatitis A vaccine, receiving a single dose within two weeks of exposure may protect you from the disease. If you cannot determine if you have already been vaccinated, receiving an additional dose of vaccine is not harmful if you have already been vaccinated.
Who should get the hepatitis A vaccine?
The CDC generally recommends that the following groups be vaccinated against hepatitis A:
Announcements
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All children from 1 year
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Travelers to countries with high rates of hepatitis A.
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Relatives and caregivers of recent adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common
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Men who have unprotected sex with other men
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Injecting and illegal drug users
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People with chronic (lifelong) liver disease, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
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People treated with clotting factor concentrates
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People who work with animals infected with hepatitis A or in a hepatitis A research laboratory
Foods related to hepatitis A outbreaks in the United States
Although foodborne illness caused by hepatitis A is uncommon in the United States, water, seafood, raw vegetables, and fruits (berries) and salads are most commonly cited as potential sources of foodborne transmission. .
Prevention of foodborne illness at home
Hepatitis A can have serious health consequences. The CDC recommends the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) described above for unvaccinated individuals who have consumed products infected with the hepatitis A virus.
To prevent hepatitis A contamination or transmission, consumers should always take safe food handling and preparation measures following the steps below:
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Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw food.
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Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bath and change diapers for protection against hepatitis A, as well as other foodborne diseases.
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Wash the interior walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have come in contact with contaminated food; then disinfect with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach with chlorine per gallon of hot water; sec with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been used before.
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Wash your hands with warm soapy water following the cleaning and sanitation process.
- Consumers can too submit a report voluntarilya complaint or an adverse event (serious illness or allergic reaction) related to a food product.
Advice for restaurants and retailers
Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated product should be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with potentially contaminated products.
Announcements
In the event that retailers and / or other food service operators have tampered with or removed potentially contaminated food from their facilities, they should:
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Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw food.
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Contact your local health department and communicate to their clients about the possible exposure to the hepatitis A virus and the potential benefit of post-exposure prophylaxis.
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Wash the interior walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops, and utensils that may have come in contact with contaminated food; then disinfect with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach with chlorine per gallon of hot water; sec with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been used before.
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Wash and disinfect showcases where potentially contaminated products were served or stored.
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Always wash your hands with warm soapy water following the cleaning and sanitation process.
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Perform frequent and regular cleaning and disinfection of cutting boards and utensils used in processing to help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
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