Hepatitis A concerns cause frozen fruit recalls from Walmart, Costco and H-E-B stores
Three frozen fruit products sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand, one Rader Farms product sold at Costco and another Rader Farms product sold at H-E-B have been recalled on Hepatitis A concerns, the manufacturer announced Monday.
The problem might be, specifically, in the strawberries from Mexico used by Willamette Valley Fruit Co., according to the company-written, FDA-posted recall notice. This is the second recent recall involving Costco based on the potential for Hep A contamination of Mexican strawberries.
READ MORE: Check your frozen fruit, Costco members. Some just got recalled
Here’s what you need to know.
What’s been recalled from Walmart?
▪ Great Value Sliced Strawberries, 64-ounce bags, lot Nos. 4018305, best by 7/19/2024, and 4019305, best by 7/20/2024.
▪ Great Value Mixed Fruit, 64-ounce bags, lot Nos. 4024205, best by 7/25/2024; 4025305, best by 7/26/2024; 4032305, best by 8/2/2024; 403305, best by 8/3/2024; 4034305, best by 8/4/2024; and 4035305, best by 8/5/2024.
▪ Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend, 40-ounce bags, lot No. 4032305, best by 8/2/2024.
These went to Walmarts in California, Texas, New York, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming from January 24th, 2023 to Thursday.
Walmart has posted a list of the exact stores involved.
What’s been recalled from Costco?
▪ Rader Frams Fresh Start Smoothie Brand, 48-ounce bags, each with six 8-ounce pouches, lot Nos. 4224202, best by 2/11/2024; 4313202, best by 5/10/2024; 4314202, best by 5/11/2024; 4363202, best by 6/29/2024; 4364202, best by 6/30/2024; 4017302, best by 7/18/2024; 4018302, best by 7/19/2024; and 4042306, best by 8/12/2024.
These went to Costco stores in California, Texas, Colorado and Arizona from Oct. 3, 2022 through June 6.
What’s been recalled from H-E-B?
▪ Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio in 3-pound plastic bags, lot Nos. 4153205, best by 12/2/2023; 4283202, best by 4/10/2024; 4284202, best by 4/11/2024; 4058302, best by 8/28/2024; and 4059302, best by 8/29/2024.
These went to H-E-B stores from July 18, 2022 through Thursday.
What’s Hepatitis A?
“Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus,” the Mayo Clinic says. “The virus is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that cause liver inflammation and affect your liver’s ability to function.
“You’re most likely to get hepatitis A from contaminated food or water or from close contact with a person or object that’s infected,” the Mayo Clinic says. “Mild cases of hepatitis A don’t require treatment. Most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage.”
People can be asymptomatic or, in 15 days to 50 days, deal with jaundice, fatigue, stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea dark urine and/or pale poop.
The company’s FDA-posted recall alert says, “In rare cases, particularly consumers who have a preexisting severe illness or are immune compromised, hepatitis A infection can progress to liver failure.”
What you should do now?
Either throw out the fruit or return them to the store for a full refund. If you have questions about this recall, call Willamette at 800-518-9865, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time.
