Regular readers know that we blend a lot of the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant blend berries from Costco. We used those berries in many of our smoothie recipes.
Unfortunately the berry blend has been linked to an outbreak of Hepatitis A. CBS News reports:
DENVER (CBS4)- Some 30 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Colorado and four other states that have been linked to frozen mixed berries purchased from Costco.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating along with the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration in an outbreak of hepatitis A cases believed to be associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend of frozen berries.
The first people became ill on April 29 and the most recent on May 21. Five of these cases are Colorado residents. The number of cases in Colorado and in this outbreak may change, because on average it takes 30 days to become ill with hepatitis A after eating contaminated food.
Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries purchased from Costco appear to be the source of this outbreak. This blend includes cherries, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, raspberries and strawberries. Costco has removed this product from its shelves, although a formal recall has not been issued.
That is a real bummer.
Unfortunately the food supply will never be 100% safe. Humans are involved in the process and mistakes will be made.
I hope Townsend Farms and Costco makes the situation right and finds a way to prevent this from happening again.