Recall of frozen mixed berries product
The following is a media release from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.
Date: 2/06/2017
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today alerted consumers to a food recall of a frozen mixed berries product that is potentially linked to three hepatitis A cases.
Acting FSANZ CEO Glen Neal said public health agencies are still testing the product to determine if frozen mixed berries are the cause, however, as a precaution, the supplier has initiated a consumer level recall of the product.
“The supplier is advising anyone who has Creative Gourmet frozen mixed berries 300gm packs with a best before date of 15 January 2021 at home to check their freezer and return any opened or unopened product to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them,” Mr Neal said.
Consumers should not be concerned about purchasing or consuming any other frozen berry brands or batches of Creative Gourmet product. The berries in question were imported in early 2015 and there is no evidence of cases of hepatitis A associated with imported berries since border controls were put in place in February 2015.
“FSANZ is working closely with enforcement and public health agencies at the state, territory and Commonwealth level to investigate the issue,” Mr Neal said.
“The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is working with the supplier who has advised that all frozen berry products are tested before distribution for hepatitis A, E. coli and coliforms and that no tests to date have returned a positive result.” Mr Neal said.
Hepatitis A is a short-term illness that rarely results in symptoms in young children. Symptoms in older children and adults include abdominal pain, nausea, fever and chills and yellow skin or eyes. While symptoms are not usually severe, vulnerable people, for example people with supressed immune systems can become seriously affected.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care professional.
Media contact: 0401 714 265 (Australia) or +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand)
More information:
Food Recalls: Food recall notice – Creative Gourmet
Food recalls for consumers – frequently asked questions
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources: Food safety requirements for importing berries