The FDA and CDC are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in frozen organic strawberries sold at Costco and Trader Joe’s after the virus was linked to a supplier with farms in Baja California, authorities say.
Frozen organic strawberries were sold at a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels and were imported from Mexico in 2022, according to the FDA.
The hepatitis A strain is also “genetically identical” to the strain that caused an outbreak of hepatitis A in May 2022 in fresh organic strawberries imported from farms in Baja California, authorities said.
Some symptoms of hepatitis A are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice, experts say. In some cases, the infection may be asymptomatic in children under six years old.
According to data provided to the FDA by the CDC, 5 out of 5 people who gave information about what they ate when they got sick said they ate frozen strawberries.
The FDA’s traceback investigation then identified a common supplier of frozen organic strawberries, according to the agency.
In response to the investigation, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego voluntarily recalled 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature frozen organic whole strawberries, the FDA said, adding that the bags in question were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles. Angeles and Hawaii, and in two business centers in San Diego.
Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, also voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries sold nationwide at Costco and Trader Joe’s, authorities said. Consumers should avoid 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature Organic Frozen Goods and Trader Joe’s 16-ounce Organic Tropical Fruit Mix.
Contact Joel Umanzor: joel.umanzor@hearst.com