News

Jun 13, 2023

Multiple States Hit by Frozen Strawberry Recall

Weekdays 5:30am-10:30am Social Recalls are like unexpected gusts of wind, which can disrupt our daily lives. When we thought we were safe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) again sounded the

Weekdays 5:30am-10:30am

Social

Recalls are like unexpected gusts of wind, which can disrupt our daily lives. When we thought we were safe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) again sounded the alarm, announcing yet another unexpected recall. This time, the spotlight falls on frozen strawberries. Before you indulge in your favorite fruity concoction, it might be wise to dive deeper into the reasons behind this recall and arm yourself with the important information that could safeguard your health and well-being.

The FDA has initiated an investigation and recalls for frozen strawberries due to concerns of potential Hepatitis A contamination. As of July 18, 2023, the FDA has reported a total of 10 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A across four states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collected data indicating that all 10 people (100%) who shared their dietary information reported consuming frozen organic strawberries before falling ill.

Walmart stores in 32 states, including Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and others, sold Great Value Mixed Fruit, Sliced Strawberries, and Antioxidant Fruit Blend, all of which are now under recall. Scenic Fruit, the supplier responsible for the recalled products, distributed them to specific states for various retailers, including Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, PCC Community Markets, and Trader Joe’s nationwide. However, it’s worth mentioning that this list of products and stores is not the final list. The FDA is actively collaborating with the companies involved to uncover any potential additional product information that may be relevant to the recall.

Typically, symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection manifest within 15 to 50 days after consuming contaminated food or water. These symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, and pale stool. In certain cases, especially among children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection can be asymptomatic, showing no apparent signs or symptoms.

Recalled frozen strawberries should not be sold, served, or consumed by consumers, restaurants, or retailers. It’s important to dispose of these products immediately. The frozen strawberries in question have a prolonged shelf-life of 18 months to two years. It’s best to check your freezer for any recalled items. If any of these frozen strawberries are found, they should be promptly discarded.

Find more information about the recall here.

A new Consumer Reports study has ranked the riskiest foods. They analyzed data from the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture between 2017 and 2022. Their researchers focused on “widely consumed foods” that had recalls over a specific duration of time.

According to Consumers Reports, the CDC estimates that 48 million people each year fall ill from salmonella, listeria, E. coli, or other bacteria or viruses in food. They said most recover on their own after a few days. But about 130,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses yearly.

Some of the foods that are ranked at the top of the list include bagged salads, poultry products, and deli meats. The top five are leafy greens, deli cheese and meat, ground beef, onions, and poultry. Bagged salads and other leafy greens ranked number one on the list. They found 50 different recalls linked to them since 2017. Also, it has the most caused deaths. Last on the list at number ten is flour. Unlike leafy greens, flour has had zero total deaths.

“We aren’t saying people need to avoid these foods entirely,” says Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at CR, who led the analysis. “After all, these foods are all usually safe, and many of them are in fact important parts of a healthy diet.” Ronholm continued to say in Consumers Report that the list underscores the “importance of following best food safety practices with all of your foods, including knowing how to track, and respond, to food recalls when they happen.” Read the entire list, and learn how you can reduce your risk at Consumer Reports.

We won't get into it, but poultry livestock is often kept in pretty gnarly conditions. That can lead to salmonella. Poultry should be cooked at at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Consumer Reports cites an FDA investigation that suggested that contaminated irrigation water was the most likely cause for salmonella here, too. It also identified livestock on nearby land and droppings from birds and other wild animals as possible sources.

Deadly strains of E. coli can get from feedlots and pastures can get into beef itself, transferring from a cow’s gut to the meat during slaughter.

Listeria flourishes, everywhere, and cold temperatures are not a defense. Consumer Reports actually advises to avoid cold cuts, or limit how often you have them. Listeria isn't pretty.

This was a bit of a surprise to us. Consumer Reports postulates that this is because of contaminated water used to irrigate the fields in California and Arizona, where most of the lettuce is grown in the U.S.

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