FDA Warns of Blackberries Contaminated With Hepatitis A

A warning was issued today about blackberries which have been found to be contaminated with the hepatitis A virus.

This afternoon, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shared an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about blackberries contaminated with hepatitis A.

The recalled frozen blackberries were sold at Kroger and other retail locations under the Kroger grocery store “Private Selection” brand.

Check packaging for the following information to identify the recalled blackberries:

• PRIVATE SELECTION FROZEN TRIPLE BERRY MEDLEY, 48 OZ (BEST BY: 07-07-20; UPC: 0001111079120);
• PRIVATE SELECTION FROZEN TRIPLE BERRY MEDLEY, 16 OZ (BEST BY: 06-19-20; UPC: 0001111087808);
• PRIVATE SELECTION FROZEN BLACKBERRIES, 16 OZ (BEST BY: 06-19-20, 07-02-20; UPC: 0001111087809)

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and to throw away frozen fruit purchased from Kroger and other retail locations packaged under Kroger’s “Private Selection” brand.

Currently, there are not any known cases of hepatitis A linked to the consumption of Kroger Private Selection brand frozen blackberries.

The Hepatitis A virus can result in a liver infection. Symptoms can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. The virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. It is spread when someone ingests the virus, usually through person-to-person contact or from eating contaminated food or drink.

People infected with Hepatitis A may not have symptoms until 15 to 50 days after exposure. Symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. Young children may not show symptoms.