--- title: Hepatitis A outbreak linked to strawberries date: 2023-03-26T20:28:12-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-strawberries" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Hepatitis A outbreak linked to strawberries The CDC, state public health and regulatory officials, and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](https://www.fda.gov/) are investigating an outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico, by a common supplier. Frozen organic strawberries may be sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels. Traceback and epidemiological investigations show that people with outbreak-associated cases in Washington purchased the same retail brand of frozen organic strawberries prior to becoming ill. As of March 20, 2023, a total of five outbreak-associated cases of Hepatitis A have been reported from one state. Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 24 to December 27, 2022. Ill people range in age from 38 to 61 years, with a median age of 52 years. Forty percent of ill people are female. Of five people with available information, two (40%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. [Epidemiologic and traceback evidence](https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/outbreaks/investigating-outbreaks/index.html) indicate that frozen organic strawberries, imported fresh from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico in 2022, are the likely source of this outbreak. The Hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses in this outbreak is genetically identical to the strain that caused a [foodborne Hepatitis A outbreak in 2022](https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2022/hav-contaminated-food/index.htm), which was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico, and sold at various retailers. In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the two to seven weeks before they became ill. Of people who were interviewed, all of them reported eating frozen organic strawberries. This proportion was significantly higher than results from a [survey](https://wwwn.cdc.gov/Foodnetfast/PopSurvey) of healthy people in which 24 percent reported eating frozen berries in the week before they were interviewed. In response to this investigation, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego, California [voluntarily recalled](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/california-splendor-inc-recalls-kirkland-brand-bags-frozen-organic-whole-strawberries-distributed) certain lots of four pound bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles, California; Hawaii; and two San Diego, California business centers. The lots subject to this recall include: 140962-08, 142222-23, 142792-54, 142862-57, 142912-59, 142162-20, 142202-21, 142782-53, 142852-56, 142902-58, 142212-22, 142232-24, and 142842-55. In response to this investigation, Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, [voluntarily recalled](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/scenic-fruit-company-recalls-frozen-organic-strawberries-and-frozen-organic-tropical-fruit-blend) frozen organic strawberries sold to Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC community markets in certain states. Products subject to this recall include: Brand NameProduct NameNet Wt.UPCBest By Date, Best If Use Date, Best Before DateDistributed in StatesSimply NatureOrganic Strawberries24 oz.40991002562226/14/2024Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, WisconsinVital ChoiceOrganic Strawberries16 oz.8342970050245/20/2024WashingtonKirkland SignatureOrganic Strawberries4 lbs.9661914040410/8/2024Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, WashingtonMade WithOrganic Strawberries10 oz.81434302139011/20/2024Illinois, MarylandPCC Community MarketsOrganic Strawberries32 oz.2282710946929/10/2024WashingtonTrader Joe’sOrganic Tropical Fruit Blend Pineapple, Bananas, Strawberries & Mango16 oz.0051191904/25/24, 05/12/24, 05/23/24, 05/30/24, 06/07/24NationwideOn March 17, 2023, a retailer, Meijer, also issued press to [voluntarily recall](https://community.meijer.com/meijer/b/recalls/posts/103441-made-with-frozen-strawberries-market-format-locations-only) Made-With brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations. ### Other Hepatitis A Lawsuits [Washington and California Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to Imported Strawberries](https://marlerclark.com/washington-hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-imported-strawberries) [Hepatitis A outbreak - Strawberries sicken 27 in Canada and United States](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-strawberries-sicken-27-in-canada-and-united-states) [Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/ginos-ristorante-pizzeria-linked-to-hepatitis-a-outbreak) [Famous Anthony's Hepatitis A Outbreak; 52 sick, 36 hospitalized and 4 deaths](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-roanoke-famous-anthonys-restaurants) [Los Angelos Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to 555 East American 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