FDA to Conduct Unannounced Testing of Frozen Berries for Hepatitis A and Norovirus
Between 1997 and 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported three hepatitis A outbreaks and one norovirus outbreak linked to frozen berries. In response to the three outbreaks, FDA started sampling frozen berries—strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries—for each hazard as part of the agency’s efforts to protect consumers and ensure food safety.
Consumers use frozen berries as ingredients without cooking them first. Cooking would reduce or eliminate the risk of contamination and foodborne illness. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are delicate and may become contaminated with bacteria or viruses if handled by an infected worker who does not use appropriate hand hygiene, or if exposed to contaminated agricultural water or a contaminated surface, like a harvesting tote. Freezing preserves berries but generally does not kill viruses, which can survive at low temperatures.