2022-2023 Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Associated with Frozen Organic Strawberries
On March 1, 2023 the Washington Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration announced an investigation of hepatitis A occurring in 5 individuals. Ten outbreak associated cases were identified. Dates of illness onsets ranged from November 24, 2022 to May 27, 2023. Four people were hospitalized. No one died.
In interviews with patients, 10 of 10 people reported eating frozen organic strawberries.
In response to this investigation, Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries sold to Costco, Trader Joe's Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states.
Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicate that frozen organic strawberries imported fresh from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico in 2022 were the likely source of this outbreak. The hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses in this outbreak is genetically identical to the strain that caused a foodborne hepatitis A outbreak in 2022, which was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico and sold at various retailers.
The outbreak was declared over in September 2023.
Tags:
berries, strawberries, organic, hav, hepatitis AOverview
| Outbreak began: | November 2022 |
|---|---|
| Affected country: | US |
| States/territories: | CA, HI, OR, WA |
| Pathogen: | Hepatitis A |
| Vehicle(s): | strawberries |
| Location(s): | Retail |
| Brand name(s): | Costco, Trader Joe's, PCC Market, Vital Choice Seafood and Organics, ALDI, KeHE, Meijer, California Splendor, Inc., Scenic Fruit Company, Wawona Frozen Foods, Willamette Valley Fruit Co. |
| Molecular test results: | Not reported |
Health impact
| Total ill: | 10 |
|---|---|
| Number hospitalized: | 4 |
Sources & documents
| Recall notices | ||
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| Report / reference links | ||
| Outbreak documents | ||