The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand reported in an earlier blog that at least 155 people had fallen ill with hepatitis A infections after consuming frozen mixed berries purchased from Costco and Teeter Harris stores in several states. Sixty-seven people required hospitalization. Many more people had to undergo vaccinations in an attempt to stave off infection.
Townsend Organic Farms of Oregon packaged and distributed the frozen berry mix, which went under the name Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend at Costco and Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend at Harris Teeter stores.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered that the source of the hepatitis A came from pomegranate seeds imported from Turkey. The frozen berry mix was quickly recalled from the market, but not before the damage had been done. The recall was expanded in late June.
The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand represents victims who contracted Hepatitis A after purchasing the contaminated product from a Costco store.
If you or a loved one has been exposed, the symptoms can begin to show from two to seven weeks after consumption. Those symptoms may include: fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, dark urine, and abdominal discomfort. Several days after those symptoms manifest themselves, most people with hepatitis A show signs of jaundice — a yellowing of the eyes and the skin.
Hepatitis A can be a life threatening infection that can cause liver failure — especially for those who have pre-existing conditions or weakened immune systems.
For more information on which lots of berries were affected by the mass recall, please check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
If you believe you or a loved one have been sickened by the contaminated frozen berry mix or any contaminated food product, contact the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages. You can call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530 or contact us online.