Free vaccinations for those who ate Berry Cherry Blend recalled berries

UPDATE APRIL 19 – Today Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health advised the public to get a hepatitis V vaccination as soon as possible if they have consumed Costco’s Nature’s Touch Organic Berry Cherry Blend berries in the last 14 days.

HPE Public Health will be offering free vaccinations. Costco is contacting customers who purchased the recalled product. To date, 13 cases of hepatitis A linked to this recall have been reported in Canada, 10 of which have been reported in Ontario.

To book an appointment to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine, call Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at (613) 966-5500 ext. 313.

APRIL 15 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall on Nature’s Touch brand Organic Berry Cherry Blend from the marketplace due to possible Hepatitis A contamination.

The 1.5kg packages were sold exclusively at Costco warehouse locations in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Best Before dates up to and including 2018 with UPC: 8 73668 00 179 1

If you have the recalled product in your home throw it away or return it to the store where they were purchased.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health says food contaminated with Hepatitis A virus may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this virus may cause hepatitis and produce a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. The illness is usually mild and starts about 15 to 50 days after the contaminated food is eaten. It generally goes away by itself in a week or two, although it can last up to six months in some people. It can cause inflammation of the liver and symptoms may include fever, low appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and yellowing in the whites of the eyes and the skin (jaundice).

If you suspect you have become ill from eating a recalled product, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health recommends you contact your doctor.