GOOD AND BAD NEWS ABOUT STRAWBERRIES
U.S. and Canada
BAD NEWS – GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS
BAD NEWS
Fresh imported organic FreshKampo and HEB strawberries caused a multistate outbreak of Hepatitis A infections in the U.S. and Canada. They were sold in HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Weis Markets, WinCo Foods, plus others.
What is Hepatitis A
It is a contagious virus causing liver disease ranging from mild (few weeks) to severe, which could lead to liver failure and death. Symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool usually beginning 15 to 50 days after eating the strawberries. It is recommended that you consult your physician if experiencing symptoms. The CDC recommends post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which is detailed in the link below. The CDC recommendations for the prevention of transmission list the obvious of washing hands to include washing and sanitizing refrigerator inside walls and shelves. This breakdown is also included in the FDA link. FDA Hepatitis A: LINK. There is also a link for moms and moms-to-be.
Although the Recall and alert is Nationwide, three specific states have cases: CA (16), MN (1), and ND (1). There are 18 + 1 probable cases and 13 +1 probable hospitalizations. No deaths.
Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with federal and provincial public health partners, the U.S. CDC, and the U.S. FDA. The investigation in Canada involves the Co-op stores in the two provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. There are four cases in Alberta and six in Saskatchewan in individuals ranging from 10 to 75 years of age. Four have been hospitalized; with no deaths.
GOOD NEWS
The strawberries were probably sold between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022. They would be past shelf life and no longer available for PURCHASE.
BAD NEWS
The purchased strawberries could have been frozen for future use and still be in freezers. It gets worse: if you are unsure of what brand you purchased, or when you purchased them, or where you purchased them, the strawberries SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY. What about family and friends who might have them in their freezers?
What about other companies who used those strawberries?
Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic now have a Recall on their Strawberry Hibiscus, LOT 1232 BEST BY 7/17/2022, because they may have used strawberries in their product.
The FDA and CDC have stated that this investigation is ongoing and additional products may be included in the future.
CLICK ON OUR Helps4Health SITE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR “FOOD RECALLS” AND WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF THIS RECALL AND ALL OTHERS.
The “Jif® Peanut Butter” was ONE recall with nine other companies having to recall their own products because they used the Jif® Peanut Butter in their own products. Plus, now there are six other companies recalling their products because of “Jif®”, which we will now be adding to Helps4Health’s Food Recalls. You might not use Jif® Peanut Butter but you might use one of the other 15 products.
Helps4Health’s “EATING HEALTHY” category has posted “The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen” annual list by EWG.org. Leading the “Dirty Dozen” list are strawberries. Quoting EWG:
More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and grapes tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.
You can view EWG’s entire list HERE at their site.
