If you’ve purchased frozen berries recently, you’ll want to check your kitchen freezer after reading this news. That’s because a food supplier for Walmart and Save-A-Lot has recalled bags of fruit containing frozen blackberries over the risk of norovirus, a contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Separately, another recall has been issued by a different blackberry supplier for Costco’s Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend over possible hepatitis A contamination.
There haven’t been any reported illnesses related to the products, but Alma Pak and Townsend Farms, Inc. decided to issue voluntary recalls after FDA testing of the berries found they were positivefor norovirus and hepatitis A, respectively.
Although norovirus typically only lasts for 48 hours, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems may suffer more prolonged or severe symptoms. Meanwhile, Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can lead to severe illness or death.
The specific products being recalled are 16-ounce bags of Great Value Frozen Blackberries, sold at Walmart locations in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. These bags have a UPC code of 078742-431017 and lot numbers AP1555, AP1640 and AP1655.
The Great Value bags have expiration dates of January 25, 2021, March 7, 2021, and April 8, 2021, and were distributed between January 31-May 31. Walmart has released a list of the specific stores to have sold the berries.
Also being recalled are 12-ounce bags of Tipton Grove Frozen Mixed Berries that were sold at Save-A-Lot locations in Florida, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. These have a UPC code of 051933-34784-7 and a lot number AP1700. The affected Tipton Grove products had expiration dates of April 22-24, 2021 and were distributed between May 5-15 this year.
Lastly, 4-pound bags of Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend sold at locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Hawaii are being recalled. They have “best by” dates between February 16, 2020 and May 4, 2020, but you can check the FDA notice for the specific best by codes for the affected products.
If you have one of the affected bags of Kirkland berries, you are advised to photograph it, throw it out, and contact your Costco store for a refund. If you have the Great Value or Tipton Grove products, either destroy or return them to the store where you purchased them (don’t eat them or add them to smoothies).
And if you have any questions about the recall, call Alma Pak at 866-965-3896 and Townsend Farms, Inc. at 877-244-0947.
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