Hepatitis A Linked to Strawberries From Walmart, Aldi​ Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked to Strawberries

Fresh fruit sold at Aldi Safeway Trader Joe s Walmart other stores

Getty Images of hepatitis A, potentially linked to strawberries distributed to major retailers nationwide.​
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning consumers to check their freezers for fresh organic strawberries sold under the FreshKampo or HEB brands and purchased between March 5 and April 25, 2022. While the fresh strawberries are past their shelf life, health authorities are concerned that potentially tainted fruit may have been frozen for later consumption. The FDA recommends throwing away any strawberries that were purchased fresh and later frozen if the brand or date of purchase is uncertain.​ Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The FreshKampo and HEB branded strawberries were sold at major retailers including:​ Aldi​HEB​Kroger​Safeway​Sprouts Farmers Market​Trader Joe’s​Walmart​Weis Markets​WinCo Foods​ A total of 17 illnesses related to the hepatitis A outbreak have been reported in the U.S., mostly in California but also in Minnesota and North Dakota. Twelve of those illnesses required hospitalization. Canadian health authorities are also investigating similar illnesses, and evidence gathered in both the U.S. and Canada points to organic fresh strawberries sold under the FreshKampo and HEB brands as the likely cause.​

What is hepatitis A ​

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the , which can be transmitted by contaminated food and water as well as by close contact with an infected person. The highly contagious disease can range from mild to severe and last from a couple of weeks to several months. People with underlying health conditions and are particularly susceptible to severe infections that can even lead to liver failure and death, according to the FDA.​ Symptoms of a hepatitis A infection include:​​ Fatigue​Nausea​Vomiting​Abdominal pain​Jaundice​Dark urine​Pale stool​​ There is a available that prevents infections. The FDA recommends that anyone who is unvaccinated and who may have eaten potentially contaminated strawberries within the last 14 days see a health care provider to consider post-exposure treatment. Foodborne illnesses resulting from the hepatitis A virus are uncommon in the U.S., according to the FDA, but when they do occur, the typical sources are water, shellfish, raw vegetables, raw fruits (especially berries) and salads.​ AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS