The FDA, along with CDC, and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States linked to fresh organic strawberries.
These potentially contaminated strawberries were imported from Baja California, a state in northern Mexico, and branded as FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier; they were purchased between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022. The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are also investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A. Imported fresh organic strawberries have been identified as the likely source of that outbreak.
As of June 7, 2022, CDC reports one additional probable case related to this outbreak. As part of this investigation, FDA has initiated an inspection. Additionally, based on records collected to date, purchase dates for potentially contaminated strawberries were between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022.
Currently, these imported fresh organic strawberries are past shelf life and are not available for purchase in stores. People who purchased these fresh organic strawberries between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022, and then froze those strawberries for later consumption, should not eat them.
If you are unsure of what brand you purchased, when you purchased your strawberries, or where you purchased them from before freezing them, the strawberries should be thrown away.
Additionally, a downstream recall for Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic (Strawberry Hibiscus, LOT 1232 BEST BY 7/17/2022) has been voluntarily initiated. The company may have used strawberries linked to this outbreak in this product.
As this investigation is ongoing, additional products may be included. More information will be provided in this advisory as it becomes available.
Recommendation
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not sell, serve, or eat any fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB if purchased between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022. People who purchased the fresh strawberries and then froze those strawberries for later consumption should not eat them. They should be thrown away.
Currently, the potentially contaminated product is past its shelf life. 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. Do not eat, sell, or serve the recalled Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic product.
If consumers purchased fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB between March 5, 2022, and April 15, 2022, ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed.
PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP.
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a hepatitis A infection after eating these fresh organic strawberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks.
