[“Hepatitis A is usually transmitted through the fecal-oral route, meaning a person somehow ingests contaminated feces from an infected person.” – Johns Hopkins Medicine]
According to the company recall posted by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on March 17 and is ongoing. There is concern that consumers may have the frozen fruit in their home freezers.
The recalled blackberries were distributed in California, Oregon, Nebraska, Texas, Washington and Nevada.
Recalled product:
| Product Description | Recall Number | Classification | Code Information | Product Quantity | Reason for Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Foods 3610100 Blackberry IQF Product of Mexico Net Wt. 30 LBS. (13.61 kg) Production/Lot Code 20422 Distributed By: Patagonia Foods, LLC. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 patagoniafoods.com | F-0760-2023 | Class I | Lot Code: 20422 | Possible Hepatitis A in blackberries |
Consumers who purchased the recalled products should immediately dispose of them and not consume them.
About hepatitis A infections
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable, liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) ranging in severity from mild infection lasting a few weeks to severe disease lasting several months.
Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms develop, they usually appear two to seven weeks after exposure to the virus with an average of 28-30 days after infection. Symptoms usually last less than two months, although some people can be ill for as long as six months.
If symptoms develop, they can include: yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, stomach pain, fever, dark urine or light-colored stools, diarrhea, and joint pain.
Many people, especially children, have no symptoms but can still spread the infection. In addition, a person can transmit hepatitis A to others up to two weeks before symptoms appear.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
