Can Strawberries Give You Hepatitis A? What to Know Some organic strawberries that are already past their shelf life have been linked to hepatitis A contamination. If you save strawberries in the freezer, here's what to know.
What’s happening
The FDA warns of a possible link between some fresh organic strawberries and a hepatitis A outbreak.
Why it matters
Hepatitis A can make you sick, especially if you are not vaccinated against it.
What’s next
If you’re freezing fruit to save for later, check to see if you sold the (now expired) strawberries at Kroger, Walmart, Sprouts, and other popular stores.
Fresh organic strawberries sold under the HEB and FreshKampo brands shouldn’t be eaten if you bought them between March 5 and April 25, the US Food and Drug Administration warns, because they are infected with hepatitis A could be contaminated.
These potentially affected berries would have passed their shelf life, so this warning is for people who would have put them in the freezer for later.
The FDA, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health officials in Canada are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in several states that is believed to be linked to the strawberries. The strawberries were imported from a supplier in Baja California, Mexico. There have been at least 17 cases of hepatitis A related to the outbreak and 12 hospitalizations in the United States, according to the FDA. The last sick person fell ill on April 30th. At least 10 cases have been reported in Canada.
The strawberries were sold at many popular stores including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Safeway.
Although the strawberries would have gone rotten or expired by now, some people may have placed them in the freezer for later use. If you have frozen strawberries and are unsure of the brand, when you bought them, or if your strawberries are included in the FDA’s warning, you should throw them out, the agency said.
Here’s what you should know.
Labels of the two brands with possibly affected strawberries. Only fresh strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25 are included in the FDA’s recall, not berries currently on store shelves. Click to enlarge.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, which is responsible for blood filtering and other important functions. While most people make a full recovery (and many people in the US are vaccinated against it), symptoms can last weeks to months and can progress to more serious illness in some people.
Which strawberries are affected?
HEB and FreshKampo brand fresh organic strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25 should not be eaten, according to the FDA. Businesses they have sold include (but are not limited to):
- HEB
- Kroger
- Safe way
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Weis Markets
- WinCo Food
All of the strawberries examined had passed their best-before date and were no longer on store shelves. In a statement, FreshKampo said the included strawberries (which will no longer be placed on the market) had a label on the plastic packaging that said “Distributed by Meridian Fruits”. HEB said in a statement that it has not received or sold any organic strawberries from the supplier under investigation since April 16.
If you purchased the potentially affected strawberries and have become ill within the past two weeks — and you haven’t been vaccinated against hepatitis A — you should call your doctor or health clinic immediately, according to the FDA.
Post-exposure prophylaxis could be given within two weeks of exposure to hepatitis A, but it’s only recommended for people who are unvaccinated or have not previously contracted hepatitis A, the FDA said.
The hepatitis A vaccine is an example of PEP. The two-dose hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for most US children between their first and second birthdays.
The potentially affected strawberries are now past their sell-by date, the FDA said, but heed the agency’s warning if you’re freezing fruit.
Is hepatitis A contagious? is it curable
According to the CDC, it is highly contagious, found in the blood or stool of infected people, and spreads either through close contact or through contaminated food or drink. Past outbreaks in the US have included contaminated frozen strawberries (2016) and scallops. According to the FDA, the disease usually appears within 15 to 50 days after eating contaminated food.
Most people with hepatitis A don’t have a long-term illness, but symptoms can last up to two months and include headache, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Jaundice causes the skin or eyes to turn yellow, and it can also cause dark-colored urine or light-colored stools.
Unlike other types of hepatitis (such as hepatitis C), hepatitis A does not usually cause chronic liver damage or chronic disease, but it can cause serious disease in some, including older adults and people with chronic liver disease.
A CDC investigation into cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in young children is ongoing and is not currently related to the investigation into organic strawberries or any other food.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition or health goals.
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