Creative Gourmet, the brand behind the frozen berry recall in early 2015, has recalled a batch of frozen pomegranate over hepatitis A fears.
According to NSW Health, seven people who had purchased and consumed Creative Gourmet's frozen pomegranates had contracted hepatitis A.
The company has in response announced a precautionary recall of a batch of Creative Gourmet Frozen Pomegranate 180g sold only through Coles supermarkets with best before dates up to and including 21/03/20.
Creative Gourmet owner Entyce Food Ingredients said in a statement, “All product tested to date has been cleared and has not revealed a link to Hepatitis A but the health and safety of our consumers is of paramount importance.
“Recognising any concern that may exist in the community, we are exercising abundant caution by activating this voluntary recall immediately.
“Consumers can be confident that the recalled product Creative Gourmet Frozen Pomegranate Arils 180g is an isolated one and no other Creative Gourmet products are affected.
“We would ask you to return the pack to Coles for a full refund.”
The Creative Goumet busienss has changed hands since the frozen berry recall, with Victorian ingredients company Entyce Food Ingredients purchasing the brand off Patties Foods at the end of 2015.
The brand was, however, back in the spotlight in June last year after being potentially linked to there hepatitis A cases. The berries in question were imported in early 2015, with no evidence of cases associated with imported berries since border controls were put in place in February 2015 after the initial recall.
This is the second food safety incident to rock the fruit industry in as many months, with rockmelon recently linked with a listeria outbreak that resulted in six deaths. A NSW Food Authority investigation found that adverse weather events were behind the higher levels of listeria found on the fruit from one farm.
The farm linked with the outbreak has now been cleared to supply fruit again, however it has recently emerged that rockmelons grown on the property were also sent to eight countries across Asia and the Middle East.
