CoOL approach needed for frozen imported berries – Labour

The disease was “rare” in New Zealand, Dr Stewart Jessamine, acting director of public health, at the Ministry, said, and “the risk of transmission of Hepatitis A from consumption of frozen berries is low”.

Today Fruzio’s managing director, Mike Glover, told ONE News the company was also recalling its 1kg bags of strawberries and blackberries because they come from the same provinces.

Spurred by the Hepatitis A outbreak from frozen berries earlier this year, a Victorian small family farming business has launched a 100 percent Australian-grown frozen berries product.

The virus is inactivated by temperatures above 85 degrees Celsius for one minute, while washing frozen berries will not inactivate it.

The advice for anyone with the Fruzio frozen mixed berries at home is to throw them away, and while MPI’s investigation continues – any imported frozen berries should be boiled.

“Elderly persons and those with chronic liver damage should avoid frozen berries that have not been heat treated”.

If you’re concerned about potential health risks seek advice from your medical practitioner, or call the Ministry of Health Healthline – 0800 61 11 16.

“If you are concerned about the safety of food products, contact the MPI consumer helpline (0800 008 333)”.

“Having only had four Hep A cases and being able to link those together to a single food source of frozen imported berries on Monday, and then to be recalling a specific brand of product yesterday, I think we’ve done incredibly well”.

However, Mr Glover said he still had confidence in the region. MPI director-general Dunne said the ministry had been alerted to video footage in September, had visited the site and had an open investigation, which was widened when the latest footage came to light.

The supplier was internationally certified, sold products to markets, including Japan and Europe, and had a hepatitis testing system, he said.

“Our first immediate interest is the interest of consumers and customers who have bought and eaten the product and our second concern is for our fantastic team”, he said.

“There is nothing peculiar about berries – any food may be contaminated if infected handlers are careless about personal hygiene”.

But Minister for Food Safety Jo Goodhew says the Government has no plans to do so.

They all ate Fruzio branded berries.

There are other products that customers can buy, including blueberries from Canada and mango from Thailand, and he is confident about the other fruits being safe said Mr Glover.

A range of imported frozen berries is being recalled in New Zealand after four people are believed to have contracted hepatitis A from the fruit, months after Australia went through a similar experience.