The United States and Canada are witnessing a campaign to withdraw strawberries from the market, following they were suspected of causing regarding 30 confirmed cases of hepatitis C in the two countries, according to NBC News, Monday, May 30, 2022.
Investigators are looking into whether this fruit is behind the recent theoretically high incidence of this epidemic disease in the United States and Canada.
According to a press release issued by the Food and Drug Administration, the quantities set by the authorities exceeded their expiration date and were distributed between March 5 and April 25, but authorities have expressed concern regarding anyone who has bought from them and frozen them.
Eat strawberries before you get injured
“Tracking investigations show that cases in California, Minnesota and Canada indicate that owners purchased freshKampo or HEB-branded organic strawberries prior to becoming ill,” the statement said.
The United States has seen 17 cases of hepatitis A, dozens of whom have required hospitalization, and Canadian authorities have confirmed at least 10 cases by Friday, May 27.
Fifteen of the cases in the United States were found in California. According to Canada’s Public Health Notice, cases have been found in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Lots of suspected cases of the virus were sold at popular grocery chains, while the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that strawberries be immediately discarded if no one is sure of where and what brand they bought.
According to the Mayo Clinic Academic Medical Center, hepatitis A is a virus-borne infection that causes inflammation and may impair liver function. It is most commonly spread by ingesting food or water contaminated with excrement.
Investigations are currently underway with the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
