A nationwide recall has been issued after a batch of frozen berries were potentially linked to Hepatitis A.
Entyce Food Ingredients revealed that a “relatively small batch” of their 300g product was pulled from supermarket shelves across Australia but only as a precaution, after a possible link to four cases of Hepatitis A.
In a statement, Entyce Food Ingredients said that testing was undertaken after the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was notified about a small number of reported cases of Hepatitis A in Australia.
However, the company described the incident as “isolated”, and it was notified by the DHHS that one unopened pack had registered an inconclusive test for the virus, despite the company previously saying that the packet had tested positive to traces of hepatitis A.
A second test returned negative results, yet the product was still voluntarily recalled as a precautionary measure.
The berries belong to the batch number PP150118, which are available from independent supermarkets across Australia, including IGA, Supabarn, SPAR, Foodworks and Foodland.
“The health and safety of our consumers is of paramount importance. Recognising any concern that may exist in the community, Entyce Food Ingredients is exercising abundant caution,” the company said.
Two years ago, a batch of mixed frozen berries also made headlines after they were linked to several cases of people contracting hepatitis A. The contaminated fruit was packed in the regional Victorian town of Bairnsdale, but was imported from Chile and China.
“Consumers should be confident that the recalled batch of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 300g is an isolated one that is no longer available on supermarket shelves,” the DHHS said in a statement.
Source: Kidspot.com.au