PUBLIC HEALTH URGES CAUTION:RECENT NATIONAL PRODUCT RECALLS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HEP A INFECTION

(Dover, DE) - The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is urging the public to take precautions following three recent product recalls associated with multistate outbreaks of acute viral hepatitis A infections and recommends disposing of any of the recalled frozen fruit products from their freezer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expanding its voluntary recall efforts and is recalling Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend. The voluntary recall is occurring because of a potential hepatitis A contamination, and based on epidemiological and trace-back evidence resulting from an ongoing outbreak investigation conducted by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of June 28, 2013, reports indicated that 131 persons from states other than Delaware have become ill with acute hepatitis A infections linked to consumption of the Townsend Farms berry product sold at Costco warehouses. At this time, no cases have been reported in Delaware. The voluntary recalls also include Townsend Farms products sold at Harris Teeter, or the pomegranate products from the Scenic Fruit Company product. No illness has been associated with the products sold at these locations.

These products should not be consumed. DPH encourages consumers to check their freezers for these recalled products and to dispose of any remaining product. The products included in the recalls are:

• Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend (3-lb. bag), sold at Costco warehouses (UPC 0 78414 404448). The recalled codes are located on the back of the package with the words "BEST BY" followed by the codes T012415 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter and T122114 sequentially through T053115, followed by a letter. All letter designations are included in the voluntary recall. The product was distributed in 12 states (AZ, AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, and WA); however, no cases from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington have been linked to the outbreak at this time.
• Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend (10-ounce bag). This product was sold between April 19-May 7, UPC 0 72036 70463 4, with Lot Codes T041613E, T041613C and a "BEST BY" code of 101614.
• Scenic Fruit Company's Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels, 8-ounce (227 gram) resealable plastic pouches with UPC Code 0 42563 01628. Specific coding information to identify the product can be found on the back portion of these pouches below the zip-lock seal. The following lots are subject to this recall: C 0129 (A, B, or C) 035 with a best by date of 02/04/2015; C 0388 (A, B, or C) 087 with a best by date of 03/28/2015; C 0490 (A, B, or C) 109 with a best by date of 04/19/2015. Products were shipped from February 2013 through May 2013 to United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) distribution centers in CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IN, IA, NH, PA, RI, TX, and WA. UNFI distribution centers may have further distributed products to retail stores in other states. There have been no links between the products and illness with Hepatitis A. These products are being recalled as a precaution.

Acute hepatitis infection usually results in symptoms 15-50 days after exposure and can include the following: yellow eyes or skin, abdominal pain, pale stools, or dark urine. Persons who think they might have become ill after consuming the recalled products should contact their healthcare providers.

For more information regarding these outbreaks, please see http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Outbreaks/2013/A1b-03-31/advice-consumers.html. To contact DPH's Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, call 1-888-295-51556 or 1-302-744-1033.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.