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Federal health authorities are investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A, potentially linked to strawberries distributed to major retailers nationwide.​ The Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning consumers to check their freezers for fresh organic strawberries sold under the FreshKampo or HEB

brands and purchased between March 5 and April 25, 2022. While the fresh strawberries are past their shelf life, health authorities are concerned that potentially tainted fruit may have been

frozen for later consumption. The FDA recommends throwing away any strawberries that were purchased fresh and later frozen if the brand or date of purchase is uncertain.​​ The FreshKampo

and HEB branded strawberries were sold at major retailers including:​ * Aldi​ * HEB​ * Kroger​ * Safeway​ * Sprouts Farmers Market​ * Trader Joe’s​ * Walmart​ * Weis Markets​ * WinCo Foods​

A total of 17 illnesses related to the hepatitis A outbreak have been reported in the U.S., mostly in California but also in Minnesota and North Dakota. Twelve of those illnesses required

hospitalization. Canadian health authorities are also investigating similar illnesses, and evidence gathered in both the U.S. and Canada points to organic fresh strawberries sold under the

FreshKampo and HEB brands as the likely cause.​ WHAT IS HEPATITIS A?​ Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, which can be transmitted by contaminated food and

water as well as by close contact with an infected person. The highly contagious disease can range from mild to severe and last from a couple of weeks to several months. People with

underlying health conditions and weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to severe infections that can even lead to liver failure and death, according to the FDA.​ Symptoms of a

hepatitis A infection include:​​ * Fatigue​ * Nausea​ * Vomiting​ * Abdominal pain​ * Jaundice​ * Dark urine​ * Pale stool​​ There is a hepatitis A vaccine available that prevents

infections. The FDA recommends that anyone who is unvaccinated and who may have eaten potentially contaminated strawberries within the last 14 days see a health care provider to consider

post-exposure treatment. Foodborne illnesses resulting from the hepatitis A virus are uncommon in the U.S., according to the FDA, but when they do occur, the typical sources are water,

shellfish, raw vegetables, raw fruits (especially berries) and salads.​