By Aria Bendix -
NBC News
Scenic Fruit Company, whose food is sold at Trader Joe's and some Costco stores, among others, is recalling several frozen fruit products due to a risk of hepatitis A contamination.
According to a company statement released Friday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), affected products include frozen organic strawberries sold under the Kirkland Signature brand at Costco stores in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as Trader Joe's frozen “Organic Tropical Mix” sold nationwide.
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Scenic Fruit Company's frozen strawberries were also on the shelves of some Aldi stores, at Seattle's PCC Community Markets, and distributed through Vital Choice Seafood, a home delivery service.
These products, which are sold under the brands Vital Choice, PCC Community Markets, Made With and Simply Nature, have also been recalled.
All names and expiration dates of potentially contaminated products are listed on the FDA website.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed three cases of hepatitis A, and two more are suspected, among people in Washington who reported eating the frozen strawberries.
Two of those patients required hospitalization, but no deaths have been reported.
“Although hepatitis A has not been detected in this product, out of an abundance of caution, consumers should stop consuming the product and return it to their local store for a refund,” the Oregon-based Scenic Fruit Company said in its announcement.
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Trader Joe's released a statement Friday announcing "no illnesses have been reported to date, and all potentially affected product has been withdrawn from sale and destroyed."
Scenic Fruit Company said it has paused production and distribution of the products in question while it investigates the matter along with the FDA.
Frozen berries. sagarmanis / Getty Images/iStockphoto
A company spokesperson told NBC News, sister network to Noticias Telemundo, that the frozen strawberries came from its supplier, California Splendor, which announced Thursday that it was recalling certain bags of frozen Kirkland Signature organic strawberries that were being sold in some stores. Costco of California and Hawaii.
“The investigation is ongoing.
Based on previous investigations of this nature, it is likely that it originated on a farm in Mexico,” the Scenic Fruit Company announced in a statement, referring to the source of the hepatitis A. “However, we defer to the FDA and the CDC”.
The FDA said Friday that the recalled strawberries were imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico.
The hepatitis A strain causing disease this year is genetically identical to the strain that caused an outbreak linked to Baja California strawberries last year, according to the agency.
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According to the CDC, hepatitis A infections can lead to liver disease, and symptoms usually appear two to seven weeks after infection.
People with mild disease may experience fever, fatigue, abdominal or joint pain, diarrhea, jaundice, or dark urine.
Symptoms usually last less than two months, but some people can be sick for up to six months.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus and can be spread by consuming food or drink handled by an infected person.
According to the CDC, food can become contaminated with hepatitis A at any time during its growing, harvesting, processing, or handling.
People with HIV or chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are at increased risk of liver damage or liver failure if they contract hepatitis A.
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A shot of the hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent the disease if given within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food.
There is no designated treatment for the disease, although symptoms can be relieved with rest, proper nutrition, and fluids.
Scenic Fruit Company said Thursday that people who may have consumed the recalled products should consult a health professional or their local health department to decide if vaccination is appropriate.
People with symptoms should see a doctor immediately, the company added.
