URGENT: Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked to Two Common Foods
By
Natalie Moore
Posted August 27, 2016
Dear Reader,
Severe stomach pains, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fevers, liver failure and death.
If you don’t want to experience any of these symptoms, then put down your fork and keep reading.
Last week, the FDA recalled three different lots of a common frozen food because it was contaminated with hepatitis A, which can cause all of the aforementioned symptoms.
But the truly nasty part is how this horrifying and sometimes deadly virus got into this food — human feces.
Yep. Other people’s poop is in your food, and it could make you very sick. More on how that happens in just a bit.
Skip the Scallops… and Strawberries
The food we’re talking about in this particular case is frozen scallops.
Fortunately, these scallops, produced by Sea Port Products Corp., weren’t sold to consumers. This means these diseased mollusks aren’t hanging out in your freezer.
But that doesn’t mean you’re out of the danger zone.
Fully 206 people have already become ill with hepatitis A from eating the contaminated scallops at a sushi restaurant. And it’s thought that all cases are in only in the state of Hawaii. However, the tainted scallops were also shipped to California and Nevada.
The FDA and Sea Port Products are working together to pull the contaminated lots off the shelves. The lot numbers are 5885, 5886 and 5887.
If you live in Hawaii, Nevada or California, you should ask restaurants where their scallops came from before eating them.
Though cutting scallops from your diet might not be the only change you need to make to avoid catching hepatitis A from your food.
This week, on the other side of the country, 23 cases of hepatitis A were linked to Tropical Smoothie Cafes in Virginia. The Virginia Health Department thinks the questionable strawberries are from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie’s CEO reports that all strawberries suspected to be contaminated were removed from the stores.
In both cases, it’s unclear where or how the contamination started. It’s possible that the food was grown in or harvested from areas contaminated with sewage. But it’s also possible that unsanitary working conditions, poor worker hygiene, or improper handling of the foods could’ve caused the contamination.
Hepatitis A symptoms may not occur for up to 50 days after initial contact. If you show any signs of hepatitis A illness, you should seek medical attention and avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you work in food service, you should not go to work.
And while there is no way to know what happened to your food before you purchase it, the spread of hepatitis A can be prevented by frequent handwashing with soap and water after using the restroom or changing diapers and prior to handling and preparing food.
In addition, be sure to thoroughly rinse produce before consuming and clean prep areas after use, especially if used for seafood, meat or poultry.
If you have questions about food safety, you can call the FDA information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily Insider
Sources
[1] Outbreak of hepatitis A in Hawaii linked to raw scallops
[2] Hepatitis A cases linked to Tropical Smoothie Cafe rise to 28 in Virginia
[3] Egypt investigates strawberry link to Hepatitis A cases in U.S.
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Your Washed Fruits and Veggies Might STILL Be Toxic
We’ve all been there. Standing at the kitchen sink, dutifully washing our fruits and vegetables to remove the pesticides, feeling good about our healthy choices. But there’s a chance that all that scrubbing might be giving you a false sense of security… Unfortunately, the latest research on pesticides in our produce is downright alarming. And...
Peace, Joy, and... Pressure? How to Relieve Holiday Stress
The holiday season is upon us, bringing twinkling lights, good cheer, and… stress? If you’re feeling more frazzled than festive, you’re not alone. A recent American Psychological Association (APA) poll reveals a startling reality about our collective holiday experience. We often paint the holidays as a picture-perfect time of joy and togetherness. But for many,...
The Longevity Secret Hiding in Your Produce Drawer
Scientists recently uncovered a remarkable anti-aging compound that not only extends life… it could help protect your brain from age-related decline at the same time. And the best part? This secret to living longer (and better) might ALREADY be hiding in plain sight in your refrigerator… New animal research published in the journal Antioxidants has...
Playlist Hack SPEEDS UP Surgery Recovery
When you have surgery scheduled, you don’t just worry about the day of the operation. There’s the anxiety leading up to the surgery. And then, even worse, there’s the painful recovery afterward. But now scientists say there’s a drug-free way to bounce back FASTER with less pain and anxiety. And the trick is as simple...
Is Wine Good for Heart Health? The Truth REVEALED
For years, many of us have savored an evening glass of red wine, comforted by the notion that this amount of alcohol might benefit our heart health. Well, unfortunately, I have to be the bearer of bad news… Recent research is challenging this long-held belief. In fact, there’s growing evidence that even light to moderate...
The Surprising Reason to Embrace Holiday Break
When the holiday season arrives, you often hear warnings about managing the stress of family gatherings, social commitments, and overindulgent meals. However, some upbeat new research reveals that the holidays can also be a secret weapon for better health. The study found that regardless of whether you’re still working a 9 to 5, or are...
Mailbag: Your Green Light Guide to Healthy Eating
“As everyone is so quick to inform us what not to eat, would you kindly inform us of what we can eat? It seems like everything has been condemned at this point.” —Hungry Hi Hungry, I understand why you’re frustrated. With all the warnings, it can feel like EVERY food in the grocery store is...
“Jack Frost” Method Supercharges Your Workouts
As the mercury drops, we instinctively want to huddle inside under a warm blanket. But before you resign yourself to a season of hibernation and comfort foods, consider this… Braving the cold could be your secret weapon for better health. While safety should always come first, of course (never venture out on icy streets), there...
Common Vitamin Protects Your Pancreas
You’ve probably heard about vitamin B12 for its role in keeping your blood and nerves healthy. But could it also be the key to protecting your pancreas? New research from Sichuan University in China suggests that this unassuming B vitamin might have even more benefits than we thought—helping to reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis,...
The Fiber That May Mimic Ozempic?
Recently, Ozempic has gained fame as a weight loss drug that works by controlling blood sugar and reducing cravings. But what if a natural solution could offer similar benefits—without the potential side effects or costs associated with GLP-1 medications? According to new research, a type of dietary fiber could help with weight loss and blood...