Frozen raspberries sold in Connecticut recalled due to Hepatitis A contamination

The Exportadora Copramar company is recalling 1,260 cases of "James Farms" frozen raspberries due to Hepatitis A contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Dec. 3. The FDA's testing of the raspberries revealed the presence of Hepatitis A. According to the FDA, the contaminated raspberries are packaged in 10 pound "James Farms" branded cartons. The berries, which are sold in Connecticut exclusively through Restaurant Depot/Jetro, are also sold in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. According to the CDC, foodborne Hepatitis A can contaminate food products during any point in the cultivation, harvesting, processing, distribution or preparation stages. In addition, the organization reports that the "source of most reported foodborne hepatitis A outbreaks has been HAV-infected food handlers present at the point of sale" or foodhandlers who prepare the food. A single Hepatitis A-infected foodhandler can infect anywhere from dozens to hundreds of people. The severity of the Hepatitis A virus can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. Those who have contracted Hepatitis A will typically see symptoms between 15 to 50 days of consuming the contaminated food item, and symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine and pale stool, according to the FDA. In serious cases, Hepatitis A can lead to liver failure. The FDA reports that a Hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food, but otherwise, there is no specific treatment to cure to Hepatitis A, and the body will clear the illness on its own within six months with no lasting damage, reports Mayo Clinic. The Restaurant Depot/Jetro is contacting customers who were sold contaminated berries and all infected lots of the product have been removed from all Restaurant Depot/ Jetro locations at this time. The FDA recommends that consumers who have purchased this specific contaminated raspberry lot should not consume them and should either discard them or return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

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