Albert Heijn,a leading supermarket chain,recently made headlines after recalling its own brand of frozen berries from shelves. The decision followed reports of at least twelve people falling ill, with two cases severe enough to require hospitalization.

Since the initial reports, more than thirty individuals have come forward, suspecting that the blueberries are the source of their illness. The RIVM,a prominent health institute,has suggested that the number of affected individuals could potentially reach into the hundreds.

Widespread Impact Across Belgium

The repercussions of this incident extend beyond the Netherlands. albert Heijn operates over eighty stores in Belgium, including in major cities like Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges.In response to the situation, the supermarket chain has also removed the frozen berries from its Belgian locations.

following the Dutch reports, the Healthcare and Health Agency, under the Ministry of Health, decided to review hepatitis A cases from the past two and a half months. The agency has reached out to individuals who may have been exposed to the contaminated produce,emphasizing the importance of early detection and prevention.