Hepatitis scare: NZ frozen berries are safe

NZME.

15 Feb, 2015 04:03 AM2 mins to read

Photo / Thinkstock

New Zealand retailers have assured customers their frozen berries are safe following a hepatitis scare with similar products in Australia.

The Victorian Health Department ordered a full national recall of 1kg packs of Nanna's frozen mixed berries on Saturday due to a potential hepatitis A contamination.

The product is stocked in Australian supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths, IGA and other independent retailers. The berries are packed in China and distributed in Australian company by Patties Foods.

The recall prompted widespread outrage and disgust on the company's Facebook page.

"Since eating these berries two weeks ago I have lost over 5kg due to constant nausea, loss off appetite, fevers and abdominal pain," Miles Carlier wrote.

"I have spent over $100 on doctors appointments and medication to stop the vomiting and now have to go back to the doctors to be tested for hepatitis A."

Mr Carlier said his wife and 2-year-old had been put at risk, and a refund was not good enough.

"You have endangered the health, safety and wellbeing of me, my family and countless other people! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

Nicole Glover said she was "freaking out" because her children had eaten almost a whole 1kg packet, while nine months' pregnant Danielle Bleach said the news was "not what you want to hear".

New Zealand retailers were quick to assure consumers that they did not stock the affected product.

A spokeswoman for Foodstuffs, the parent company which owns New World, Pak'n Save and Four Square, said the company had not been alerted to any issues by its food safety team and there were no current food recalls on frozen berries issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

"We have confidence in our supplier food safety programmes and customers should feel comfortable that all products on shelf are subjected to rigorous food safety protocols and are safe to eat," the spokeswoman said.