More frozen organic Costco strawberries recalled in connection with outbreak of hepatitis A

Wawona Frozen Foods has just recalled some of its Organic DayBreak Blend frozen fruit because strawberries in it have been linked to a hepatitis A outbreak.

The California company distributed the frozen fruit to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington from April 15, 2022, to June 26, 2022, according to the company’s recall notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

There is concern that consumers may still have the recalled product in their freezers because of its long shelf life, which stretches into October this year.

The DayBreak Blend includes organic frozen strawberries grown in a certain region of Mexico which produced strawberries traced to a hepatitis A outbreak.

The ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A infections has been traced to frozen strawberries already recalled by California Splendorwhich distributed the fruit in Kirkland Signature 4-pound bags and by Scenic Fruitwhich distributed the fruit under the  Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, and PCC Community Markets brands and Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend.

The Wawona Organic DayBreak Blend has “Use By” dates of Sept. 23, Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 18 this year. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled blend, not to consume it and either discard the product or return it to the store for a refund.

The recalled Organic DayBreak Blend product is no longer available for purchase at Costco. Organic DayBreak Blend products on store shelves currently or that have different lot codes or purchase dates are not subject to this recall.

As of the posting of the recall, no people have been confirmed sick from eating the Wawona fruit blend. However, other brands of strawberries from the same growing area in Mexico have been traced to outbreak patients.

Nine people in three states have been confirmed sick in the outbreak. Three of them required hospitalization because of the liver infections.

Consumers should look for the following label information to determine whether they have the recalled frozen organic fruit blend:

About hepatitis A
Food contaminated with hepatitis A does not look, smell or taste bad. If you have eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms you should seek medical attention because the infection, which attacks the liver, can become severe.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable, liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).

Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms develop, they usually appear two to seven weeks, at an average of 28-30 days, after infection. Symptoms usually last less than two months, although some people can be ill for as long as six months.

If symptoms develop, they can include yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach throwing up, stomach pain, fever, dark urine or light-colored stools, diarrhea, joint pain, feeling tired.

Even if no symptoms are present people can still spread the infection. In addition, a person can transmit hepatitis A to others up to two weeks before symptoms appear.