FDA officials confirmed that the strain of virus found in frozen organic strawberries involved in a multistate outbreak this year is the same strain that caused an outbreak in 2022.
According to the agency, the organic strawberries associated with both outbreaks were imported to the United States from Baja California, Mexico. In 2023, this frozen food caused the infection of 7 people who required hospitalization, while in 2022, the agency confirmed 18 patients, of which 13 required hospitalization.
This year, two companies, California Splendor, and Scenic Fruit, recalled frozen organic strawberries with expiration dates extending to 2024. On March 17, 2023, one retailer, Meijer, also requested a voluntary recall of frozen organic strawberries from certain market stores.
The FDA investigation is ongoing, and they may request more brands to recall the products.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious and preventable liver infection that varies in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.
Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children, and symptoms usually last less than two months, although cases of up to six months have been reported.
Symptoms include yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, dark urine or light-colored stools, diarrhea, and joint pain.
Beach, C. (2023, 11 April). FDA says the hepatitis A virus in this year’s frozen strawberry outbreak is identical to one from 2022 | Food Safety News. Food Safety News. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/04/fda-says-hepatitis-a-virus-in-this-years-frozen-strawberry-outbreak-is-identical-to-one-from-2022/
