Creative Gourmet frozen mixed berries have been recalled for the second time in two years after potentially being linked to three hepatitis A cases.
The recall is precautionary, according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), which is currently testing the product.
Victorian ingredients company Entyce Food Ingredients owns the Creative Gourmet brand after purchasing it off Patties Foods at the end of 2015.
Earlier that year, Patties recalled a number of its Creative Gourmet and Nanna's frozen berry products under similar circumstances.
Acting FSANZ CEO Glen Neal said public health agencies are still testing the product to determine if frozen mixed berries are the cause, however, as a precaution, the supplier has initiated a consumer level recall of the product.
“The supplier is advising anyone who has Creative Gourmet frozen mixed berries 300gm packs with a best before date of 15 January 2021 at home to check their freezer and return any opened or unopened product to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them,” Neal said.
According to FSANZ, consumers should not be concerned about purchasing or consuming any other frozen berry brands or batches of Creative Gourmet product.
The berries in question were imported in early 2015 and there is no evidence of cases of hepatitis A associated with imported berries since border controls were put in place in February 2015.
“FSANZ is working closely with enforcement and public health agencies at the state, territory and Commonwealth level to investigate the issue,” Neal said.
“The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is working with the supplier who has advised that all frozen berry products are tested before distribution for hepatitis A, E. coli and coliforms and that no tests to date have returned a positive result.”
