Frozen berries recall leads to hepatitis A alert

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is holding hepatitis A immunization clinics for people who consumed a brand of frozen berries sold by a major grocery store chain.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control recently issued an alert and recall for Western Family brand Pomeberry Blend frozen berries after eight cases of hepatitis A were detected over the past two months in B.C.

Five out of eight of these cases are known to have consumed the Pomeberry product and an investigation is ongoing. This product has been distributed through Save-On-Foods and Overwaitea.

"The affected product Western Family brand Pomeberry Blend berries is sold frozen in 600g packages bearing UPC 0 62639 31347 0.  All lot codes are affected," according to a statement issued by the CFIA.

"This product is known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario and may also have been distributed to other provinces."

The  Provincial Health Services Authority says the overall risk to the public is very low, but people are eligible to receive the vaccine if they ate the berries within the past 14 days and have not previously received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine.

Drop in clinics will take place at the Victoria Health Unit at 1947 Cook Street between Thursday and Friday between noon and 3 p.m. and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.