With the increase in incidents of people contracting hepatitis A after the consumption of frozen berries, Australian authorities are looking to beef up screening.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Australia's agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce revealed that authorities were looking to introduce more stringent food screening measures in the country after frozen berries from China were connected to hepatitis A infections, which were on the rise.
"The health ministers (of states and territories) are discussing this issue right now," said Joyce.
Regulators have recalled mixed berries and raspberries from the brands Creative Gourmet and Nanna's after authorities ascertained that the products were responsible for causing four hepatitis A infections in Victoria and New South Wales. Contaminated water and bad hygiene at the packaging factory are believed to be responsible.
The products packaged in China, which have been recalled, included blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. The blueberries were from Chile.
Regulators currently categorize imported frozen berries as "surveillance foods." Only 5 percent of the consignments are tested for packaging and labeling requirements along with 49 agricultural chemical residues.
Since the recall of the frozen berries was issued, several more cases of infections have also emerged in Western Australia and Queensland.
The government said that there have been 13 confirmed cases of hepatitis A infections as a result of the consumption of the said food products.
A viral disease, hepatitis A affects the victim's liver. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue and vomiting. It can also cause jaundice and has a 50-day incubation period.
Schools in New South Wales are also leaving no stone unturned and taking strict measures to monitor the situation after a health warning was issued by the education department.
"Schools must take action to ensure that products matching this recall are removed and discarded," read the notice issued to nearly 2,000 schools. "These products are not to be consumed."
As a result of the hepatitis A outbreak due to contaminated frozen berries, the Australian Red Cross has also quarantined nearly 300 blood donations.
To avoid infections, consumers are advised not to purchase the following products under scrutiny:
- Nanna's Mixed Berries (frozen) in 1kg plastic bags. Best before dates until and inclusive of 22/11/2016.
- Nanna's Raspberries (frozen) in1kg plastic bags. Best before dates until and inclusive of 15/09/2016.
- Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries (300g). Best before 10/12/2017.
- Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries (500g). Best before 6/10/2017.
