Frozen strawberries have been recalled due to the risk of hepatitis A

Some frozen strawberries available at Trader Joe’s, Costco and others should not be eaten because of the risk of hepatitis A, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers this week.

Some lots of Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries, Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend and other brands were voluntarily recalled by two suppliers this week while the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigate an outbreak linked to the fruit.

An outbreak of hepatitis A in Washington state has left two people hospitalized and five infected, the FDA said in an alert on its website. The agency said patients reported eating frozen organic strawberries before becoming ill. The infections were linked to strawberries imported from certain farms in Baja California, Mexico, the FDA said.

“Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not sell, serve or eat recalled frozen strawberries. These recalled products should be returned or disposed of,” the warning said. “If consumers have purchased the recalled frozen organic strawberries and have eaten these berries within the past two weeks and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should consult their healthcare professional immediately.”

Other stores that stock frozen strawberries include Aldi and PCC Community Markets, and other brands include Made With and Simply Nature organic strawberries.

Specific details of stores, brands, lots, best buy dates etc. are available in the FDA warning.

The two suppliers, California Splendor and Scenic Fruit, also released information about the recall, as did Aldi, Costco, PCC Community Markets and Trader Joe’s. They all say hepatitis A has not been detected in their respective products, but that the recall was made “out of an abundance of caution.” Made With did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

The FDA said the hepatitis A strain found in Washington state is identical to the strain that caused the 2022 outbreak.

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver, an organ responsible for filtering blood and other important functions. Although most people make a full recovery (and many people in the US are vaccinated against the virus), symptoms can last weeks to months and cause more serious illness in some people.

Symptoms include abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, jaundice, nausea, pale stools and vomiting, the FDA said. In some cases, symptoms may not be obvious, especially in children under 6 years of age.

CNET’s Jessica Rendall contributed to this report.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.