FreshKampo and HEB brand strawberry packs are likely to be linked to more than a dozen recent cases of hepatitis A in California, federal food regulators said.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local and state partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of infections. Hepatitis A in the United States and Canada potentially related to organic and fresh produce. strawberries with FreshKampo or HEB tags and purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022.
“If you’re not sure what brand you bought, when you bought the strawberries, or where you bought them from before you froze them, the strawberries should be discarded,” the FDA said in a warning notice.
The strawberries were also sold to HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers, Trader Joe’s, Weis Markets and WinCo Foods, according to regulators. The FDA has received reports of 17 cases of hepatitis A in the U.S. since the strawberries hit store shelves and a dozen people have been hospitalized. Most cases have been in California, but the FDA also reported one case in both Minnesota and North Dakota.
In Canada, 10 cases of hepatitis A and four strawberry-related hospitalizations have been reported, according to The Associated Press.
No deaths were reported, according to the agency. He said strawberries under investigation “are a likely cause of disease in this outbreak.” FDA research is ongoing, so other products may be related to cases of hepatitis.
The report alleges that FDA leadership does not guarantee 07:49 food safety
HEB said it has not received or sold the strawberries investigated since April 16. The Texas-based grocery store kept its strawberries safe, but said customers should throw away organic strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25.
“No strawberry-related disease has been reported in the FDA’s investigation at HEB or Texas,” the company said in a statement Sunday.
FreshKampo is a producer and distributor of fruits and vegetables based in Mexico. The company could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Hepatitis A is a contagious but treatable virus that infects the liver, causing it to swell and malfunction. Most people get infected with contaminated food or water.
Anyone who has already eaten the harmful strawberries should see a doctor immediately and ask about a hepatitis vaccine, the FDA said.
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Khristopher J. Brooks
Khristopher J. Brooks is a CBS MoneyWatch journalist who covers commercial, consumer, and financial stories ranging from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and sports businesses.