On June 4, 2013, Townsend Farms, Inc. of Fairview Oregon announced that it is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend because it has the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A virus.
Townsend Farms is recalling all product sold at Costco warehouse stores under the name Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, 3 lb. bag and UPC 0 78414 404448. The recalled codes are located on the back of the package with the words “BEST BY” followed by the code T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter.
This product was also sold at Harris Teeter stores from April 19 – May 7 under the product name Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend, 10 oz bag and UPC 0 72036 70463 4, with “BEST BY” codes of T041615E or T041615C. Recall information.
If you consumed this product in the last two weeks and have never been vaccinated, contact your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated. If you don’t have a health care provider (usually your doctor) contact your health department.
Contact your health care provider right away if you develop any of these symptoms:
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Abdominal pain
- Pale stools
- Dark urine
The CDC reports as of June 4, 2013, 49 people ill with acute hepatitis A that may be linked with consumption of a contaminated product have been reported by seven states: Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, and California.
Preliminary laboratory studies of specimens from two cases suggest the outbreak strain of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is genotype 1B. This strain is rarely seen in the Americas but circulates in the North Africa and Middle East regions. This genotype was identified in a 2013 outbreak in Europe linked to frozen berries and another 2012 outbreak in British Columbia related to a frozen berry blend with pomegranate seeds from Egypt.