Elderly people, those with chronic liver damage and pregnant people are being warned against eating imported frozen berries to reduce the risk of contracting Hepatitis A.
Frozen berries. Photo: 123rf.com
New Zealand Food Safety's deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle says the disease is rare in New Zealand, but three cases have recently been confirmed in people who regularly eat frozen imported berries.
Early symptoms of Hepatitis A can be mistaken for the flu, but symptoms including fever, jaundice, nausea and dark urine can appear as the illness develops.
Arbuckle said virus genotyping showed the three recent cases were linked.
"While there is not sufficient information on a specific brand to initiate a targeted product recall, the evidence from the cases and from international experience, indicates a risk of exposure to Hepatitis A from consuming imported frozen berries," he said.
"Given we are moving towards the summer months where more frozen berries will be consumed, we considered it appropriate to remind consumers of these simple precautions.
"This is particularly the case for vulnerable communities for whom the consequences of becoming infected with the Hepatitis A virus can be serious."
He said people with chronic liver damage, the elderly and pregnant people should take extra precautions before eating frozen imported berries, such as:
- Briefly boiling frozen berries before eating
- Ensure cooking temperatures exceed 85 degree Celsius for one minute.
- Washing hands before eating and preparing food
Arbuckle said New Zealand had excellent systems to minimise risk throughout the supply chain and food businesses were verified to ensure the proper precautions were being taken.
"In addition, imported berries are subject to a sampling and testing regime before being released for sale," he said.
"However, we will never be able to completely eliminate any food safety risk from food for sale. That's why we encourage consumers to consider extra precautions at home.
"The safety of consumers is our number one priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation with that in mind. As part of this, we are working with frozen berry suppliers to ensure they are aware of potential risks and are actively managing the issue.
"If we identify any evidence of a wider risk we will assess and take appropriate action, including product recalls."