New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has issued a notice relating to a potential link between the risk of exposure to Hepatitis A and imported frozen berries. While there is insufficient evidence to initiate a product recall, NZFS has issued guidance for consumers relating to the preparation and consumption of frozen berries.

NZFS’s advice is as a precaution consumers must heat imported frozen berries to more than 85°C for 1 minute before use.  They also advise frozen berries that have been heated to these specifications can then be refrozen.

Our stores offer customers a range of imported frozen berry product, we stress New Zealand Food Safety has emphasised that no specific supplier’s product relating to the cases of Hepatitis A has been identified as the source of contamination, and therefore this advice applies to all imported frozen berry products.

Consumers are advised that washing imported frozen berries will not eliminate the any potential cause of contamination.

We take food safety very seriously and we’ll continue to work closely with and support NZFS.  Please visit the MPI website here for more information, and follow their advice on the consumption of imported frozen berries.