Berries Purchased from Costco Causing Hepatitis A Outbreak

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - June 3, 2013 - PRLog -- The Oregon-based company, Townsend Farms has produced a food item that has been sold in numerous states and that has caused an outbreak of Hepatitis A.

Costco stores in California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have been selling the Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend, which contains pomegranate seed mix. This product has recently been linked to 30 cases of illnesses, as reported by the Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many of the thirty ill patients have asserted that they purchased the product at Costco stores in the affected states. The company has since removed the product and is now attempting to contact all of those who have purchased the item recently.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is contracted usually from food that has been handled without the proper hygiene by an infected person. Food that is contaminated with the virus can create an outbreak, which is what happened here.

At this point, there has been no official government recall; however, the CDC is recommending that all stores cease their sales of the Blend. The FDA is inspecting the farms from which the blend originates to learn whether more products have been infected.

The illness can occur within 15 to 50 days of exposure to the virus and can last from a few weeks to several months. Symptoms include: fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine and pale stool. Vaccination is useful in fighting the infection if it is given within two weeks of exposure or if it had been given prior to exposure.

The victims who have suffered due to this outbreak are all older than 18, ranging in ages from 25 to 71 years old. The first victim affected was reported in April.

Defective products can be extremely harmful and may even cause death in some instances. It is important to be aware of recalls and damaged goods when they are reported.

If you or someone you know has been affected by this tainted item, or has dealt with a defective product in the past, contact a Los Angeles injury attorney at http://bestaccident-attorneys.com/ today. Our lawyers will assist you in finding negligence, filing claims and receiving the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered.