As federal health authorities continue to look into an outbreak of hepatitis A infections, California-based Wawona Frozen Foods is recalling packets of frozen fruit that were sold to Costco locations a year ago.

The organic frozen strawberries included in the 4-pound cartons of the recalled Organic DayBreak Blend were produced in Mexico and “may have the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A,” according to the recall notice published by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Wawona is one of the companies that the FDA has identified as possibly receiving tainted organic strawberries from Baja California, Mexico, which have been linked to nine hepatitis A infections, three hospitalizations, and nine cases of the disease in three states. In November 2022, the first sickness was discovered.

According to federal health inspectors, the packages of frozen fruit were sent to Costco Wholesale locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington between April 15, 2022, and June 26, 2022.

The recall added, “consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled blend, not to consume it and either discard the product or return it.” Although the bags were sold in retailers last year, they have “Use By” dates in September and October 2023.

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Wawona claimed that no illnesses have been recorded and that the recall was done out of a sense of extreme caution. Furthermore, the item is no longer available on store shelves.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses in this outbreak is genetically identical to the strain that caused the foodborne hepatitis A outbreak in 2022, which was also connected to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico, and sold at various retailers.

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According to the CDC, illnesses typically manifest 15 to 50 days after ingesting hepatitis A-contaminated food or water. Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools are some of the symptoms. However, youngsters under the age of six might not always show any symptoms.

It is possible for an infection to linger for several weeks or months. Hepatitis A infections can, in rare instances, lead to liver failure in those who already have a serious illness or have weakened immune systems.