FDA warns: Strawberries may cause hepatitis A outbreak in US and Canada

According to CBS News, the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the participation of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and localities , is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in the US and Canada.

There is a possibility that hepatitis A has been linked to organic strawberries labeled FreshKampo sold at the HEB supermarket chain and purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022.

FreshKampo strawberries are suspected of causing hepatitis A in the US and Canada

FreshKampo is a fruit and vegetable grower and distributor based in Mexico.

In the notice, the FDA warned buyers who are unsure of the brand of strawberries they purchased, to throw those strawberries away.

The FDA has received reports of 17 cases of hepatitis A in the US since FreshKampo strawberries hit store shelves and dozens of people have been hospitalized. Most cases have occurred in California, but the FDA has also reported hepatitis A in both Minnesota and North Dakota.

In Canada, 10 cases of hepatitis A and four hospitalizations have been linked to strawberries.

According to the FDA, no deaths have been reported, and said that organic strawberries are under investigation "possibly as a cause of illness in this outbreak". The FDA investigation is ongoing.

Supermarket chain HEB said it had not received or sold the strawberries under investigation since April 16. The Texas-based grocer insists its strawberries are safe, but says customers should throw away organic strawberry product purchased between March 5 and April 25.

Hepatitis A is a contagious but treatable virus. This virus infects the liver, causing it to swell and malfunction. Most people get the hepatitis A virus from dirty food or contaminated water.

The FDA says anyone who has eaten harmful strawberries should see a doctor immediately and get a hepatitis vaccine.