In the last couple of days we have learned that a berry mix containing cherries, berries, and pomegranate seeds has caused multiple people to contract Hepatitis A. Now this mix seems to have been sold exclusively at Costco and yes, we purchased and ate them, along with another brand (from Costco) containing the exact same mix.
This mix was PROCESSED in Oregon, but the theoretical Hep A virus may lie in the pomegranate seeds that are from Turkey, Argentina, and Chile. We have made it a fairly standard procedure of not buying produce from other countries (except Canada) due to some incidents that have been connected to perhaps poor hygiene and looser standards than we have here in the US. This is NOT to say that everything here is perfect; we've had terrible scares with spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, as well as meats and poultry. But, overall, I feel that our produce is safe(r) than foreign countries. I am not trying to play the High and Mighty "America is Better" card, but other countries have had very bad luck with food items and we may never hear about it. For instance, in China, you may recall the milk tainted with melamine scandal, causing infant deaths and 300,000 sickened (that we know about).
Here's more on China's Top Ten food poisonings:
China's Top Ten Food Scandals
I don't mean to pick on China, but they have been secretive at times, hiding information from their own people. Another instance is Mexico. Salmonella tainted melons, mangoes, peppers, and green onions that have hit our shelves have sickened and killed many people here.
Well first of all, if you bought this berry mix from Costco, called Townsend Farms brand, you may have looked at the back and seen that they were from a company in Oregon. That may have made you feel better. It did me...but in looking at the package, in tiny small print, there it is: The source. Now I know pomegranates do not grow in Oregon.Maybe I thought to myself: California! I wasn't paying attention. Now I am just mad, at myself mainly for not reading more clearly where the product originated.
You cannot rely on the company name or address. You cannot rely on the "distributed by" American-named company. I am angry that people who bought these berries for smoothies for their children or perhaps people who have compromised immune systems and nothing tasted good to them but a berry smoothie, will be getting sick.
Years ago, I got a Hep A vaccine and my kids have been vaccinated, but we don't think hubby has been. What he read is that the Hep A vaccine is not appropriate for people over 50. OMG, those are the very group that may be at highest risk (besides children) for the disease.
Please be aware of where your produce comes from. Try to buy in season and local when possible. Or at least from known American companies or known companies based on foreign soil. By that I mean say, "Dole" bananas, the company is more apt to have safer practices than say "Yellow Brand" bananas.
For more information on the Berry mix recall:
HAV Berry Recall
