Organic frozen berries sold at Costco have left 30 people infected with Hepatitis A, and nine of them have been hospitalized, according to reports.
Health officials have linked an outbreak of acute hepatitis A that has sickened at least 30 people in five states to a frozen berry and pomegranate mix. Officials say they bracing for more reported cases if cafes and restaurants bought the frozen blend to make smoothies, frozen bar drinks and other desserts for customers.
At least 30 cases of hepatitis A were reported nationwide, six of which were in California, including patients in San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties. Illnesses were also reported in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. Health officials warned consumers not to eat Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries sold at Costco, which all six California patients ate.
"If you ate Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries within the past two weeks and you have never been vaccinated for hepatitis A or had the disease, you should contact your healthcare provider to discuss hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin," said Dr. Eric McDonald, the San Diego's deputy public health officer.
Those who purchased the frozen berry blend should discard the product, McDonald said.
The FDA said it is inspecting the processing facilities of Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., which sold the mix. The CDC said the strain of hepatitis is rarely seen in North or South America but is found in the North Africa and Middle East regions.
A lawyer for Townsend Farms said the frozen organic blend bag includes pomegranate seeds from Turkey, which are only used in the product associated with the outbreak.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last from a few weeks to a several months. People often contract it when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate hand hygiene. Food already contaminated with the virus can also cause outbreaks.
