Global Courant
Wawona Frozen Foods, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall on large bags of frozen fruit sold at Costco Wholesale stores in five states.
The recall includes one-year-old 4-pound packages of Wawona Frozen Foods Organic DayBreak Blend that were distributed from April 15, 2022 to June 26, 2022.
“The DayBreak Blend contains organic frozen strawberries grown in Mexico that may be contaminated with Hepatitis A,” said a recall notice posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
Affected products were shipped to Costco locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington.
Wawona Frozen Foods said the recall was made “as a precaution” and there were no reports of illness at the time of publication.
Wawona Frozen Foods is voluntarily recalling one-year-old packages of its Organic DayBreak Blend distributed from April 15, 2022 to June 26, 2022 to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington.
Wawona through FDA
While the Organic DayBreak Blend was distributed to Costco stores last year, they have ‘use by’ dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023, and 10/18/2023. their freezers on the recalled blend, not to consume it and either throw the product away or return it to the store for a refund,” the recall notice stated.
The products are no longer available in store for purchase and any Organic DayBreak Blend products currently on store shelves with different lot codes or purchase dates are not affected by this recall.
“Wawona Frozen Foods is working fully with federal health officials and Costco to ensure consumers are warned about the recalled Organic DayBreak Blend distributed by Wawona Frozen Foods last year,” the recall notice said.
click here for full product images and lot code information.
Hepatitis A is “a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus,” according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Hepatitis A is very contagious,” states the CDC. “It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus — even in microscopic amounts — through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink.”
The hepatitis A virus can remain active in frozen foods.
According to the CDC, people who contract hepatitis A “may feel sick for a few weeks to several months, but usually make a full recovery and have no permanent liver damage.”
“In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death. This is more common in older people and those with other serious health problems, such as chronic liver disease,” states the CDC.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain and yellowing of the skin, known as jaundice, and can last up to two months, according to the agency.
“The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated,” states the CDC.