Costco Hepatitis Alert - Frozen Berries FYI

[tomm2thumbs]

Last edited Sat Jun 1, 2013, 04:35 AM - Edit history (2)

Six cases of hepatitis A that are believed to be linked to frozen berries sold at Costco stores have been confirmed in California, including patients in San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties, state Department of Public Health officials said Friday.

The cases are part of a multi-state outbreak, and while three of the California patients required hospitalization, no deaths have been reported. At least 30 cases are being investigated nationwide, health officials said.

The state health department warned consumers not to eat Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries sold at Costco. The six California patients all ate the berries, according to CDPH.

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http://www.10news.com/news/hepatitis-a-cases-linked-to-frozen-berries-sold-at-costco-053113

Probably worth posting as many folks may miss the alert in the news

*** updating ***

30 Hepatitis A Illnesses Linked to Organic Berries Sold at Costco
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hepatitis-a-illnesses-linked-to-organic-berries-sold-at-costco/

Not worth messing with...

(adding image which appears to show product being called out, as it is not always obvious what brand people have purchased as packaging seems to emphasize product vs. brand name, and many people think most packaged foods sold at Costco are Kirkland branded, which this is not...)

[defacto7]

1. Thanks for the alert...

It got my heart pounding. I eat the Kirkland frozen blueberries from Costco all the time which is in the same freezer case as those other ones. I guess they don't count. I hope....

[tomm2thumbs]

3. figured a lot of folks are healthy eaters around these parts -- worth posting

never worth worrrying about - call tomorrow and check and I'm sure they'll letcha know

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my sister always does the healthy berry stuff so sent her the link as well

[lindysalsagal]

17. Me, too!!!

YIkes!!!

The blueberries I bought at costco are from maine. HOpe they're ok!

[silverweb]

2. Uh-oh.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]That's one of my regular buys when fresh berries aren't in season. Now that they're in the farmers' market, I've skipped getting the frozen ones lately.

[tomm2thumbs]

11. that's pretty frightening for a parent - hopefully they can get reimbursed for the cost

of all the things to have to deal with when out of town - ugh

[Luminous Animal]

5. Shouldn't that be Townsend Farms Organic berry alert...

[tomm2thumbs]

6. I think it is specific to ones only sold at Costco

From the link:

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries purchased from Costco appear to be the source of this outbreak.

[Luminous Animal]

8. True but the title would be more informative by brand than store or perhaps both.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. I'll definitely have to have a stern word with ABC-10 about that...

they even buried the name of the berries in the article until the 3rd paragraph... wonder what they were thinking?

And they are supposed to be pros at this news thing too!

Good call Luminous Animal

[Luminous Animal]

10. Okey-doke. The news knows best. Who are we to think otherwise.

[byeya]

19. Who are we peons to think.period. As much as I love veggies and fruit, I don't eat anything anymore

that hasn't been cooked. And, that which can't be cooked, like cantaloupe, I don't eat.
It's sad that it's come to this for me, but the millions of food poisoning cases in the USA per annum is a great
underreported fact that should be front page stuff. Of course, a lot of food poisoning is mishandled food at home and in restaurants that has nothing to do with the source, but the minority of infected-at-the-source cases is enough for me to change my habits.

[tblue]

7. Holy cow! Just bought some on Thursday!

I have to double check the brand. But they are organic berries purchased at Costco. Haven't opened them yet though but I cane this close! Holy moley!

[lindysalsagal]

18. Bring the bag back and they'll reimburse you

[tblue]

25. I sure will!

Costco is great about refunds. Damn. It was a great deal.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Screw it. I don't want to carry it in the car and let it thaw out.

I'll eat the 3 bucks, at least figuratively.

[Cha]

12. That's too bad Hep A got into the Organic Berry Mix from Townsend..

thanks, Tomm

[Squinch]

13. OK, am I going completely crazy?

My first thought was: hmmmm....interesting, this coming on the heels of the news that Costco is doing so much better than the retailers like Walmart who treat their employees badly.

That being said, I've had Hep A and it's no picnic. Take all precautions possible.

[sikofit3]

23. Thats what my first thought was!

Not to take away from the seriousness of this outbreak but it is interesting it comes at the heels of Costco doing so much better than the Walmart competition and that they actually pay their employees! However, it is a serious development.

[Brickbat]

14. Good thing I eat factory-farm meat.

/smug

[HappyMe]

16. I haven't seen that brand at my grocer.

I don't shop at Costco.

[Prism]

20. And into the trash they go.

I just bought a bag two weeks ago to use in oatmeal and smoothies. I hadn't gotten around to opening them yet though. Bullet dodged, eh?

[Warren DeMontague]

27. Yeah, we had a bag in the freezer, too. Yuck.

Paper here asserted it wasn't a problem with the ones sold up here, but I don't know how the *&&$%$( they're supposed to know that. I sure as shit am not going to eat them now.

[librechik]

21. hope this is good place to post: cure found for hep C

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/hepatitis-c-treatment-cures-abbvie_n_3139989.html

I know, it's not quite right, but this is hopeful and interesting, tho still experimental

[ananda]

22. OK, how does ..

.. human feces get on pomegranate seeds put in berry bags for sale?

[bluestate10]

28. People not washing their hands properly after using a toilet. All too common. nt

[bike man]

26. I've never been inside a Costco, and we grow our own blueberries. I just gave away

7 quarts of frozen berries from last year to make room in the freezer for the new crop.