FDA investigating hepatitis A outbreak linked to strawberries

A dozen people have been hospitalized after a Hepatitis A outbreak associated with strawberries.

An investigation between multiple agencies including the CDC, FDA, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are all looking into an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada. The outbreak is possibly linked to FreshKampo and HEB strawberries that were purchased between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022.

These strawberries were sold at numerous stores including HEB, Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market, Walmart, Safeway, Weis Markets, and WinCo Foods.

The FDA has urged individuals who have frozen those goods to not eat them.

“If you are unsure of what brand you purchased, when you purchased your strawberries, or where you purchased them from prior to freezing them, the strawberries should be thrown away,” the FDA said in a statement.

No deaths have been reported but a total of 17 cases and 12 hospitalizations have been reported at the time of this report.

Individuals should consult with their doctor if they have eaten those strawberries and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A.

Symptoms of hepatitis A are upset stomach, yellow skin, joint pain, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting.