WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Traceback data gathered during an ongoing investigation of hepatitis A infections linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Mexico has resulted in the voluntary recall of potentially contaminated products, including bags of frozen fruit mix sold at Costco locations in Washington.
Wawona Frozen Foods is issuing a voluntary recall for the year-old Organic DayBreak Blend out of an abundance of caution.
Other products from other brands also involved in related recall efforts were sold in Walmart, Costco and HEB stores outside of Washington state. These products also contained organic frozen strawberries grown in Mexico, which may have the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A.
While the Organic DayBreak Blend was distributed to Costco stores last year, they have “Use By” dates of 09/23/2023, 09/29/2023, 09/30/2023 and 10/18/2023 therefore 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.
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The year-old 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. Wawona Frozen Foods (June 9, 2023)
The recalled year-old Organic DayBreak Blend includes these lot codes.
BEST IF USED BY
09/23/2023BEST IF USED BY
09/29/2023BEST IF USED BY
09/30/2023BEST IF USED BY
10/18/2023Affected Lot Codes: Affected Lot Codes: Affected Lot Codes: Affected Lot Codes: 20082D04 20088D04 20089D09 20108D04 20082D05 20088D05 20089D10 20108D05 20082D06 20088D06 20089D11 20108D06 20082D07 20088D07 20089D12 20108D07 20082D08 20088D08 20108D08 20088D09 20088D10 20088D11 20088D12
Washington State Department of Health said they and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had begun investigating a cluster of cases of hepatitis A suspected to be transmitted through food. They said 5 Washington residents had become ill with hepatitis A infection between November 24th, 2022, and December 27th, 2022. All reported eating the same brand of frozen organic strawberries during the period of time when they would have been exposed to hepatitis A.
A 6th Washington resident became ill on April 12th with hepatitis A infection and also reported consuming the recalled frozen organic strawberries during the time they would have been exposed to hepatitis A.
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Click for more information| Washington State Case Information | Cases | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases | 6 | |
| Hospitalized | 2 | |
| Died | 0 | |
| Age range | 30 to 60 years old | |
| Sex | Female | Male |
| 2 | 4 | |
| County Case Information | Total Cases |
|---|---|
| King | 3 |
| Kittitas | 1 |
| Snohomish | 2 |
People who have been fully vaccinated for hepatitis A (two doses of vaccine separated by at least 6 months) are usually immune and will not get sick even if they ate the recalled strawberries. If you are not vaccinated and ate the recalled strawberries in the previous 50 days, you could be at risk of infection.
If you ate any of the recalled products in the previous 14 days, you may be able to receive treatment to prevent infection with hepatitis A. Contact your health care provider immediately to let them know you ate a product in the previous 14 days that was recalled because of hepatitis A.
If you ate any of the recalled products between 15 and 50 days ago, you could be at risk for hepatitis A infection and should watch for the following symptoms.
- Feeling tired
- Low appetite
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Joint pain
- Dark urine
- Pale poop
- Jaundice (yellow color to the whites of the eyes or skin)
If you ate any of the recalled products within the previous 50 days and develop symptoms of hepatitis A, contact your health care provider and let them know you ate a product that was recalled because of hepatitis A.
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People with hepatitis A infection can spread the infection to others. The virus spreads through infected poop. You can get hepatitis A if you put something in your mouth (food, water, hands) that has infected poop on or in it. The item can have the virus on it even if it looks clean.
Anyone who ate any of the recalled products in the last 50 days and develops symptoms of hepatitis A should not work in or attend childcare and should not work in food service or health care until they can be assessed by a health care provider.
People who get hepatitis A usually feel better within two months, however, some people can be sick for as long as six months.
Household members of persons with hepatitis A infection should ask their health care provider about treatment to prevent hepatitis A infection. Washington State Department of Health