Frightened strawberries sold at Trader Joe, Costco recalled for possible hepatitis A risk

Scenic Fruit Company, whose foods are sold at Trader Joe s and some Costco stores, recalls various frozen fruit products due to a risk of hepatitis A contamination.

According to a company announcement on Friday, the affected products include frozen organic strawberries sold at Costco locations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as Trader Joe's frozen Organic Tropical Fruit Blend sold nationwide.

Scenic Fruit Company's frozen strawberries were sold at some Aldi stores, the Seattle-based PCC Community Markets, and distributed through Vital Choice Seafood, a home delivery service. They are being recalled as well as the items sold under the brand names Vital Choice, PCC Community Markets, Made With and Simply Nature.

All names and best-by dates of the potentially contaminated products are listed on the FDA website.

Two more suspected cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among people in Washington who reported eating frozen strawberries. Two of the patients required hospitalization, but no deaths have been reported.

Consumers should stop eating the product and return it to their local store for a refund, according to Scenic Fruit Company, based in Oregon.

Trader Joe's said in an online statement on Friday that no illnesses have been reported to date, and all potentially affected products have been removed from sale and destroyed. Scenic Fruit Company paused production and distribution of the products in question while it investigates the issue alongside the FDA.

A company spokeswoman told NBC News that the frozen strawberries came from California Splendor, which said it was recalling certain bags of Kirkland Signature frozen organic strawberries sold at some Costco stores in California and Hawaii.

The investigation is still going on. Scenic Fruit Company said in a statement that it was likely that it came from a farm in Mexico, referring to the source of hepatitis A. We defer to the FDA and the CDC. The FDA said on Friday that the recalled strawberries were imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico. The hepatitis A strain that causes illnesses this year is identical to the strain that caused an outbreak of strawberries from Baja California last year, according to the agency.

Hepatitis A infections can lead to liver disease, with symptoms usually appearing two to seven weeks after an infection, according to the CDC. People with mild illness may have a lot of symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, abdominal or joint pain, diarrhea, jaundice or dark urine.

The symptoms usually last less than two months, but some people may be sick for as long as six months.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that can be spread by consuming food or drink handled by a person with an infection. According to the CDC, food can be contaminated with hepatitis A at any point during growing, harvesting, processing or handling.

People with HIV or chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are at higher risk of liver damage or liver failure if they contract hepatitis A.

If given within two weeks of exposure to contaminated food, a hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent the spread of the disease. There is no designated treatment for the disease, though symptoms can be alleviated with rest, proper nutrition and fluids.

Scenic Fruit Company said on Thursday that people who have consumed the recalled products should consult a health care professional or their local health department to decide whether vaccination is appropriate. People with symptoms should see a doctor immediately, according to the company.