Blackberry-hepatitis A investigation over, no common source found
The Food and Drug Administration has completed a traceback investigation into hepatitis A cases linked to fresh blackberries, but a single, common source of tainted blackberries was not found.
Twenty cases in seven states, with the most recent onset of Nov. 15, were linked to fresh blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Woodman’s Market. Patients reported eating conventionally grown blackberries bought from the retailers in six states, but an origin of the hepatitis was not found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA or state and local authorities that assisted in investigations.
The FDA has not disclosed the grower or location or the geographical origin of the blackberries.
The FDA continues to recommend consumers not eat berries they might have frozen after purchasing them from stories in the 11 states where they were distributed: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Related stories:
Hepatitis A cases related to blackberries rise again
UPDATED: Hepatitis A outbreak linked to blackberries count increases
UPDATED: Hepatitis A outbreak linked to fresh blackberries