Question:
I have been reading about the latest hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen berries in New Zealand. Should we avoid frozen imported berries altogether, given the risk of these types of contamination?
Answer:
In October, the Ministry of Health advised that 15 locally acquired cases of hepatitis A had been linked to frozen berry consumption. With summer nearing and smoothies made from frozen berries a popular option over the warmer months, it is timely to consider how best to minimise any health risks associated with this form of fruit.
All 15 of the people infected with hepatitis A reported they were significant consumers of uncooked imported frozen berries. Genetic testing of the virus strains that infected them revealed a connection to another hepatitis A outbreak, in Sweden in 2020 and last year, which was linked to frozen berries from Serbia.
Although a link between the outbreak in New Zealand and frozen berries imported from Serbia is not definitively proven, importers of frozen berries in New Zealand have reportedly put any orders from that country on hold while the investigation continues.
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