(17 February 2015)
What products are affected?
The following products have been recalled:
- Nanna's Mixed Berries (frozen), 1kg plastic bags, from Coles, Woolworths, IGA and other independent supermarkets with all best before dates of up to and including 22/11/16
- as a precautionary measure, Nanna's Raspberries (frozen), 1kg plastic bags, with best before dates up to and including 15/09/2016
- as a precautionary measure, Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries (frozen), 300g and 500g plastic bags and cardboard boxes, from Coles, Woolworths and IGA stores nationally with best before dates of up to and including 22/11/16.
If further products are recalled these will be listed on our recall page.
What are food authorities doing about this issue?
Food recalls are managed by state and territory authorities and are coordinated by FSANZ. FSANZ is working with state and territory food authorities, public health bodies and the Commonwealth departments of health and agriculture on the investigation into this incident. Regulatory authorities and industry have moved quickly to ensure all potentially affected products have been removed from retail sale.
All food sold in Australia must be safe and suitable and must meet the requirements of the Food Standards Code. Even with the best food safety practices issues like this will occur from time-to-time. Australia's food recall system has been developed to manage recalls when there is a food safety issue.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver but unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease. In most hepatitis A cases, a person's immune system will clear the infection and the liver will completely heal.
Symptoms
Many infected people, particularly children under the age of five, often do not show any symptoms. However, for older children and adults the following symptoms may indicate a hepatitis A infection:
- fever
- nausea
- abdominal discomfort
- dark urine
- pain in the liver (under the right rib cage)
- loss of appetite; and
- yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).
After catching the virus it usually takes about 28 days to become ill, but it can take anywhere from 15 to 50 days in some cases. People with hepatitis A can pass it on to others from two weeks before they show symptoms to one week after they become jaundiced.
More advice for consumers about hepatitis A from the Commonwealth Department of Health
Advice for GPs from the Commonwealth Department of Health
What should I do if I think I'm infected?
If you think you may have consumed the affected berries and are showing any signs of the symptoms listed above you should seek medical advice.
If you don't have a preferred doctor you can use the National Health Services Directory to find a health service near you.
How does food become contaminated with hepatitis A?
The most common sources of fresh food contamination with hepatitis A are:
- food being grown in contaminated water
- produce being picked or packed by a person or people who are infected with hepatitis A; and
- produce being washed in contaminated water.
The virus can survive outside of the body on surfaces, hands, water and in food for extended periods of time. The virus is resistant to freezing and heating.
Country of origin labelling
The Food Standards Code includes a requirement for country of origin labelling on packaged food.
Food must carry a statement identifying either:
the country where the food was made, produced or grown; or
the country where the food was manufactured or packaged and that the food is a mix of ingredients imported into that country or a mix of local and imported ingredients.
While the requirement for country of origin labelling is in the Food Standards Code the rules for country of origin claims e.g. 'product of' or 'made in', are set out in Australian consumer Law and these claims are regulated by the Australian Competition and consumer Commission (ACCC).
How is imported food tested when it enters the country?
The Department of Agriculture's Imported Food Inspection Scheme operates a risk-based border inspection scheme to test food in line with the Code.
Read more about how imported food is tested at the border
Read the Department of Agriculture's media statements about hepatitis A