ICAPP voluntarily recalls frozen strawberries

The International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing (ICAPP) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its frozen strawberries in response to an FDA investigation of an outbreak of Hepatitis A.

The recalled products were all distributed for sale to and use in food service establishments nationwide — not for use in food products offered for retail sale to consumers. Nonetheless, ICAPP is issuing this news release publicly to help mitigate any possible risk to the public health and to fully ensure that all recalled products are recovered. Although none of ICAPP’s own testing through an established surveillance program or through third party testing of retained samples has identified the presence of Hepatitis A in any of its products, ICAPP has decided to recall all frozen strawberries that it has imported into the United States since Jan. 1.

The five consignees who received recalled frozen strawberry products from ICAPP are:

• C.H. Belt of Lake Forest, Ca. (sold under CH World Brand)
• Jetro/Restaurant Depot of College Point, N.Y. (sold under James Farm brand and unbranded “Bits & Pieces”)
• Sysco Corporation of Houston, Tex. (sold under Sysco brand)
• Patagonia Foods of San Luis Obispo, Ca. (sold under Patagonia brand)
• Reddy Raw of Woodridge, N.J. (sold under Regal brand).

No other ICAPP products, frozen or fresh, are covered by this voluntary recall.

CAPP has been engaged with FDA in its investigation of this outbreak and is taking this action in consultation with FDA because Hepatitis A virus was detected in four lots of frozen strawberries that were exported to the U.S. by ICAPP. ICAPP is working closely with all of the U.S. distributors of this product to ensure that this recall is effective, according to an FDA press release.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, including from food. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. Illness generally occurs within 15 to 50 days of exposure.

For more information about this investigation, visit FDA’s outbreak investigation website at http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm518775.htm.