Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Costco are recalling some of their frozen fruit products due to potential contamination with Hepatitis A. In March 2023 a Hepatitis A outbreak occurred in Washington state that was linked to certain products containing frozen organic strawberries.
Five people were infected, and two were hospitalized. An investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that all five sick individuals had eaten frozen strawberries sold by the same supplier in Baja California, Mexico, in 2022. Hepatitis A is a potentially serious virus that can cause inflammation of the liver, leading to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
But how can fruit carry Hepatitis A? The virus is usually found in the feces of people who are infected, and it can spread to food that comes in contact with it. Fruits and veggies grown in dirty soil or water can also carry the virus, making it difficult to detect contamination just by looking at the food. The Hepatitis A strain causing the infections this year is genetically identical to the strain that caused another outbreak last year, which was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Mexico.
We’ll tell you which products are affected by this Hepatitis A scare and what to do next.
Keep tabs on all the latest food recalls with our comprehensive, ongoing list at The Krazy Coupon Lady.
Check your frozen strawberry products; they may be contaminated with Hepatitis A.
In response to the Hepatitis A investigation, two suppliers have now recalled frozen organic strawberries. California Splendor of San Diego, California, has recalled certain lots of 4-pound bags of Kirkland brand frozen strawberries at Costco stores in California. Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, has voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries sold to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states and to Trader Joe’s nationwide. At Trader Joe’s, the strawberries were included in their Organic Tropical Fruit Blend.
Here are the affected products according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announcement:
Simply Nature Organic Strawberries (24 oz)
- Sold at: Aldi
- Best By 6/14/2024
- UPC: 4099100256222
- Distributed in AZ, AR, CA, IL, IA, MI, MN, MO, ND, SD, OH, WI
Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries (4 lb)
- Sold at: Costco
- Best By 10/8/2024
- UPC: 96619140404
- Distributed in AK, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA
Vital Choice Organic Strawberries (16 oz)
- Sold at: Vital Choice Seafood (online)
- Best By 5/20/2024
- UPC: 834297005024
- Distributed nationwide
Made With Organic Strawberries (10 oz)
- Sold at: Smaller organic markets
- Best By 11/20/2024
- UPC: 814343021390
- Distributed in IL, MD
PCC Community Markets Organic Strawberries (32 oz)
- Sold at: PCC Community Markets
- Best By 10/29/2024
- UPC 22827109469
- Distributed in WA
Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend (16 oz)
- Sold at: Trader Joe’s
- Best By Dates: 04/25/24, 05/12/24, 05/23/24, 05/30/24, 06/07/24
- UPC: 00511919
- Distributed nationwide
If you have any of the products, you can return them for a full refund — even without a receipt.
If you bought the recalled frozen fruit, don’t eat it. Instead return the product to the place you bought it for a full refund, even if it’s not where you originally bought it — even if you don’t have a receipt.
You could also throw the product away, but make sure it’s in a sealed bag or container to stop others from eating it — and make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds afterward.
Customers with questions or concerns about the recall can call Trader Joe’s Customer Relations weekdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT at (626) 599-3817.
Tell us what you think