FDA traces hepatitis A cases to blackberries

ajc.com

Hepatitis A cases in three states were traced to blackberries sold in September at Fresh Thyme grocery stores.

The majority of the 11 cases were in Nebraska. However, the FDA also is urging people in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota to not eat any remaining fresh blackberries purchased between Sept. 9 and Sept. 30. If people put the berries in the freezer for later use, the berries should be thrown away.

There is a Fresh Thyme Farmers Market at 2850 E. Centre Drive in the Beavercreek Towne Center in Beavercreek.

Fresh Thyme issued a statement Wednesday night, saying the company is cooperating with officials, that the contamination did not happen through handling in Fresh Thyme stores, and that the company is working with the FDA and CDC to identify the supplier and source of contamination.

"Fresh Thyme takes the health and safety of our customers and our team members very seriously. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has a stringent process for ensuring compliance to all local, state and federal health and hygiene regulations."

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. It’s usually transmitted person-to-person through contact with an infected person’s stool, or consumption of contaminated food or water.

Symptoms include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, light-colored stool and jaundice. Most affected feel sick for several months, recover and do not have lasting liver damage.

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