June 13, 2023 — Based on traceback data gathered during the ongoing investigation of hepatitis A infections linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico; FDA has identified additional firms that may have received potentially contaminated product. FDA has been working with these firms to ensure that any potentially contaminated product is removed from the market.
On June 12, 2023, Willamette Valley Fruit Co. of Salem, Oregon, initiated a voluntary recall of select packages of frozen fruit products containing strawberries. Recalled products include Great Value Mixed Fruit 4-lb, Great Value Sliced Strawberries 4-lb, Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend 2-lb, Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend 48-oz. bag (each bag consists of six 8-oz packages), and Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio 3-lb.
Additional distribution and lot code information is below.
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 9
Hospitalizations: 3
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: April 12, 2023
States with Cases: WA (6), CA (2), OR (1)
Product Distribution: Nationwide
Recalled Products
In response to this investigation, on June 12, 2023, Willamette Valley Fruit Co. initiated a voluntary recall of select packages of frozen fruit containing strawberries. Recalled products include the following:
Walmart: Great Value Sliced Strawberries, Great Value Mixed Fruit, and Great Value Antioxidant Blend distributed to select Walmart stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY from January 24, 2023, to June 8, 2023.
Costco Wholesale Stores: Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend distributed to Costco Wholesale stores in CO, TX, CA, and AZ from October 3, 2022, and June 8, 2023.
HEB: Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio distributed to HEB stores in Texas from July 18th, 2022, to June 8, 2023.
Lot codes and Best By dates for recalled products are included in the recall announcement.
In response to this investigation on June 7, 2023, Wawona Frozen Foods voluntarily recalled year-old packages of its Organic DayBreak Blend distributed to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington from April 15, 2022 to June 26, 2022.
In response to this investigation, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego, California, has voluntarily recalled certain lots of 4-lb. bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and at two San Diego business centers.
The lots of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries subject to this recall include:
In response to this investigation, Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, has voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries, sold to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.
Products subject to this recall include:
On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall of frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.
As this investigation is ongoing, additional products may be included. More information will be provided in this advisory as it becomes available.
Product
Willamette Valley Fruit Recall:
Great Value Mixed Fruit 4-lb bags, Great Value Sliced Strawberries 4-lb bags, and Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend 2-lb bags sold at Walmart.
Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend 48-oz. bags sold at Costco.
Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio 3-lb bags sold at HEB stores.
Wawona Frozen Foods Recall: Wawona brand Organic DayBreak Blend 4-lb. bag with “Use By” dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023 and 10/18/2023.
California Splendor Recall: Kirkland Signature 4-lb. bag Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in certain states with specific lot codes.
Scenic Fruit Recall: Recalled brands include Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets frozen organic strawberries and Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend with specific best by dates.
Additional recall information is available below.
Stores Affected
Great Value Mixed Fruit, Sliced Strawberries, and Antioxidant Fruit Blend were sold in Walmart stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY.
Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend was sold in Costco stores in CO, TX, CA, and AZ.
Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio was sold in HEB stores in TX.
Wawona Frozen Foods distributed recalled packages of Organic DayBreak Blend to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington.
California Splendor supplied recalled product to Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and to two San Diego business centers. Scenic Fruit supplied recalled product to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states, and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.
On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall Made-WithExternal Link Disclaimer brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.
This is not an exhaustive list of products or stores. FDA is continuing to work with the firms to identify potential additional product information.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A
Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.
Status
Ongoing
Recommendation
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not sell, serve, or eat recalled frozen strawberries. These recalled products should be thrown away.
These items were sold frozen and have a long shelf-life of 18 months to two years. Consumers should check their freezers for any recalled frozen strawberries. If you have recalled frozen strawberries in your freezer, throw them out.
If consumers purchased the recalled frozen organic strawberries and ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A virus infection if given within 14 days of exposure. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A virus infection do not require PEP.
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a hepatitis A virus infection after eating these frozen organic strawberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks.
