The US Food & Drug Administration announced an investigation into FreshKampo or H-E-B brand organic strawberries for hepatitis A on Saturday after infections were reported in several states.
The FDA said not to eat, serve or sell those brands of strawberries if bought between March 5 and April 25.
“Currently, the potentially affected FreshKampo and HEB products are past shelf life. People who purchased FreshKampo and HEB fresh organic strawberries between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022, and then froze those strawberries for later consumption should not eat them,” the FDA said.
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The known nationwide retailers for the strawberries are:
- Aldi
- H-E-B
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Weis Markets
- WinCo Foods
As the FDA began its traceback investigations, the agency found that, before becoming ill, individuals in California, Minnesota, and Canada purchased fresh organic strawberries as FreshKamp or H-E-B.
“If you are unsure of what brand you purchased, when you purchased your strawberries, or where you purchased them from prior to freezing them, the strawberries should be thrown away,” the FDA said.
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Fifteen cases of a hepatitis A infection have been reported in California while Minnesota and North Dakota have each reported one case. Of the 17 related cases, the FDA says 12 have been hospitalized.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease.
It typically occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or beverage.
Mild cases can last a few weeks while severe cases can last several months, according to the FDA.
Symptoms of hepatitis A range from mild to severe and can include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-colored urine and jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes and skin). Not everyone who is infected will have all the symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are also investigating.
