The Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are collaborating with federal and state partners to respond to a recall of frozen berries potentially contaminated with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating the source of the contamination. At this time, FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A linked to products included in this recall. Additional impacted products may be announced or recalled as the investigation continues. The full FDA Public Health Alert is included below.

The MDHHS Division of Immunizations states that we are currently in a unique situation because we have adult Hepatitis A vaccine purchased using existing Hepatitis A outbreak funding. This vaccine can be used for post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for individuals who may have eaten the recalled berries related to this event and are considered uninsured or underinsured. For affected adults with insurance coverage, PEP vaccination is still encouraged but privately-purchased vaccine should instead be utilized and billed accordingly.

MDHHS Immunizations Contact: 517-335-8159

MDHHS Communicable Disease Division: 517-335-8165

MDARD Contact: 1-800-292-3939

Sign up to Receive Food Recall alerts from MDARD: http://michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-50772-188443--,00.html

Public Health Alert Concerning Hepatitis A Virus Contamination of Kroger Brand Frozen Blackberries and Costco Kirkland Signature Brand Three Berry Blend

FDA Public Health Alert Available at:https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/public-health-alert-concerning-hepatitis-virus-contamination-kroger-brand-frozen-blackberries-and

Update: June 11, 2019

The FDA is alerting consumers of additional frozen blackberry products that have been recalled. The recalled frozen Kirkland Signature brand Three Berry Blend would have been purchased from Costco in California and Hawaii, and has the following best by dates of February 16, 2020 to May 4, 2020:

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE THREE BERRY BLEND, 4 lb bag with Best By codes located in the white box on the back of the Product bag:

Best By:

• FEB1620,(A),(B),(C),(D),(E),(F),(G), or (H);
• FEB1820,(A),(B),(C),or (D);
• FEB2920,(A),(B),(C),or (D);
• MAR0120,(A),(B),(C),or (D);
• APR1920,(B),(C), or (D);
• APR2020(A),(B),(C),(D),(E), or (F);
• APR2720(A),(B),(C),(D),(E),(F),(G), or (H);
• APR2820(A),(B),(C),(D),(E),(F),(G), or (H);
• MAY0220(A),(B),(C),(D),(E),(F),(G), or (H);
• MAY0420 (H).

Do not eat any of the recalled frozen Three Berry Blend product. This blend includes blackberries, raspberries and blueberries and has a shelf life of 16 months.

The FDA is alerting consumers to a hepatitis A virus (HAV) contamination of frozen blackberries under the Kroger grocery store “Private Selection” brand. This contamination was discovered by the FDA as a part of an ongoing frozen berry sampling assignment. The supplier for the recalled Kroger frozen blackberry products and Costco frozen blackberry products is the same. The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and to throw away certain frozen blackberry products purchased from Kroger and other retail locations packaged under Kroger’s “Private Selection” brand. Here are the recalled products:

• 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)

These products are available at Kroger and other retail locations and have an 18-month shelf life. The FDA is working with the manufacturer on this matter. This posting will be updated with new information as it becomes available. The FDA is continuing to investigate to determine whether there are other implicated products.

At this time, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A linked to the consumption of Kroger Private Selection brand frozen blackberries or Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) can result in a liver infection that may be inapparent. However, when symptoms occur, they can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. HAV is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. HAV is spread when someone ingests the virus, usually through person-to-person contact or from eating contaminated food or drink. Contamination of food with the hepatitis A virus can happen at any point: growing, harvesting, processing, handling, and even after cooking.

Hepatitis A can have a long incubation period and can have serious health consequences for some people, especially those who are immune-compromised. People infected with HAV may not have symptoms until 15 to 50 days after exposure, which often makes it difficult to determine the exact exposure that led to illness. Symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes (known as jaundice), dark urine, and pale stool. Young children may not show symptoms of HAV infection.

The FDA recommends that consumers who consumed the frozen berries listed above and have not been vaccinated for HAV consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated. PEP may be recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to HAV in the last two weeks; 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 become ill from eating frozen blackberries, or if you believe that you have eaten any of the frozen blackberry products noted above within the last two weeks.

The FDA encourages consumers with questions about food safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, or to consult http://www.fda.gov.

The Kroger Company Recall (via FDA website):

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kroger-recalls-select-frozen-private-selection-berries-possible-health-risk#recall-announcement