Pomegranate seeds from Turkey linked to hepatitis A outbreak

Pomegranate seeds from Turkey linked to hepatitis A outbreak

As of June 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 122 cases of hepatitis A linked to the Townsend Farms product.

Another Oregon based fruit company has been forced to recall some of their frozen fruit products as a result of an ongoing hepatitis A outbreak, CBS News reports.

The Scenic Fruit Company in Gresham, Ore. made the announcement on Wednesday that they were issuing a voluntary recall for more than 61,000 bags of Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels.

There are currently no reported illnesses believed to be associated with any Scenic Fruit products. Product testing has yet to find the presence of the liver damaging virus of concern on the company’s pomegranate seeds. The recall is being issued as a precaution, due to an ongoing hepatitis A issue with pomegranate seeds imported from Turkey. The company obtains all of its pomegranate seeds from Turkey.

In early June, Townsend Farms in Fairview, Ore. recalled their Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend of frozen berries. This product was sold by Costco stores and has been linked to an outbreak in 5 states that sickened at least 30 people.

As of June 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 122 cases of hepatitis A linked to the Townsend Farms product. There are 17 cases in Arizona, 62 in California, 25 in Colorado, 5 in Hawaii, 5 in New Mexico, 5 in Nevada, 2 in Utah and 2 in Wisconsin. One case is Wisconsin was a result of exposure to the product while in California, however.  Of these 122 cases, 54 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Hepatitis A is highly contagious and considered potentially dangerous. It is most often transmitted through contaminated food sources and drinking water. Symptoms of the viral illness include fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, joint pain, dark colored urine, gray-colored stool and yellowing of the skin.

There is a vaccine that can be given, but it is only effective if given within 2 weeks of being exposed to contaminated food sources or drinking water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this particular strain of hepatitis A is not common in the US. It is most often seen in North Africa and the Middle East.

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