How Costco-Sold Berries are Making People Sick

Featured Article, Healthy Recipes and Nutrition, Nutrition
on June 3, 2013
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Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend, a frozen berry mix sold at Costco, has caused a Hepatitis A outbreak across five Western states. Thirty people have become ill with the contagious liver disease, which can last anywhere from several weeks to several months. The CDC interviewed the ill patients, and 11 out of 17 recalled eating the berries. Costco has issued a safety notice regarding the berry mix and pulled the product from store shelves.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus usually picked up in places with poor sanitation. Common symptoms of the virus include fatigue, belly pain and yellowing of the eyes and skin. In order to avoid becoming symptomatic, patients must receive a treatment vaccine within two weeks of exposure. Otherwise, the virus eventually goes away on it’s own in most cases, while in extreme cases, patients can experience liver failure.

Want to learn more about food safety? Check out these Surprising Food Safety Facts