CALIFORNIA — A case of hepatitis A linked to a multistate outbreak from frozen organic strawberries has been identified in Los Angeles County, prompting health officials to remind people to throw out the recalled fruit.
The outbreak stems from frozen organic strawberries imported from Mexico and sold in Los Angeles County, according to the health department.
The Food and Drug Administration has recalled several brands of frozen strawberries, and different suppliers are taking required actions to remove suspect frozen strawberries from their stores, according to a statement from the health department.
The frozen organic strawberries were sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels, including Kirkland Signature, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, PCC Community Markets, and Trader Joe's, the health department said. Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon recalled Simply Nature frozen organic strawberries sold in Aldi stores and an organic tropical fruit blend that was sold in Trader Joe's grocery stores nationwide due to the outbreak. Additionally, California Splendor of San Diego recalled bags of their Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles, two San Diego Business Centers and Hawaii.
"The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem," the FDA said in a statement. "Consumers who have purchased the products are urged to destroy or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund."
FDA officials said the frozen organic strawberries were from a common supplier from certain farms in Baja California, Mexico and were sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels.
According to epidemiological data collected by the Centers for Disease Control, every person who provided information about what they ate before they get sick reported eating frozen organic strawberries. An identical strain of hepatitis in May 2022 was also linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California.
On Friday, the FDA advised customers who purchased the fruit in the Golden State to check lot codes and best-by dates on the back of each bag.
Affected lots and products in California include:
- Simply Nature Organic Strawberries - Best by June 14, 2024
- Trader Joe's Organic Tropical Fruit Blend Pineapple, Bananas, Strawberries & Mango - Best by April 25, 2024/ May 12, 2024/ May 23, 2024/ May 30, 2024/ June 7, 2024
- Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries - Specific lot numbers in L.A., San Diego and Hawaii
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last a few weeks in mild cases or several months in more severe cases. The illness can cause liver failure in people who have severe pre-existing illnesses or are immunocompromised, the FDA said.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine and pale stool. Symptoms can manifest within 15 to 50 days of exposure to contaminated foods. The FDA said that while hepatitis A hasn't been detected on the product, officials are operating out of an abundance of caution.
Officials advised customers to stop consuming the possibly contaminated products and return them to their local store for a refund. For questions, customers can reach out to Scenic Fruit Company's customer service team at customer.service@scenicfruit.com and California Splendor Inc.'s customer service team at consumerinformation@calsplendor.com.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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