A recall on frozen strawberries from Egypt, which have been linked to a multistate Hepatitis A outbreak, is done in Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating the outbreak.
This recall affects all frozen strawberries and frozen strawberry products imported into the United States by the International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing since Jan. 1, 2016. The products were not offered for sale in groceries, retail stores, or food warehouses, but were distributed to restaurants, according to the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.
The restaurants who were confirmed to have served the strawberries are:
- Fat Alberts restaurant (Greeley) served strawberries on top of dessert items, last served Oct. 24.
- Red Rooster restaurant (Longmont) served strawberries on top of breakfast items, last served by Oct. 28.
Mark E. Wallace, MD, MPH, Executive Director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment said, "If you have been exposed to hepatitis A, you can prevent infection by having a hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin therapy within two weeks of exposure. If it has been more than 14 days since you have eaten these berries, the vaccine won't be effective in preventing infection."
Hepatitis A is a virus or infection that causes liver disease and inflammation and is commonly caused by eating contaminated food. You do not always get symptoms, but these are indications that you may have Hepatitis A.
- Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin, dark urine)
- Pain in your belly
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
There are currently no treatments for the disease, but a vaccination and good hygiene are the best defense. Anyone who ate strawberries from Colorado restaurants is advised to contact their health care providers right away to discuss options for treatment, and those who have been vaccinated for Hepatitis A need not get the vaccine again.
