FDA Releases Strategy for Preventing Berry Contamination

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to take a closer look at your berries. 

On January 17 the FDA released a summary report outlining its strategy for preventing the spread of human norovirus and hepatitis A outbreaks, both of which have been closely associated with fresh and frozen berries. Here’s what all general consumers need to know as we approach the warmer months when berries are always on our minds.

How are berries contaminated by human norovirus and hepatitis A?

Contamination, the FDA explains, usually results from “lapses in food safety systems and prevention methods.” This includes improper hygienic practices by workers or in processing facilities, or via cross-contamination. Examples of improper hygienic practices could be someone not washing their hands, or contaminated water being used during processing. However, the FDA added that “further investigation is needed to better understand viral persistence in the agricultural environment, the processing environment, and in berries; routes of contamination; and public health factors.” 

Has this been an issue before?

As the report notes, viral infection of fresh and frozen berries has been an ongoing problem. In March of 2023 Food & Wine reported on the voluntary recall of Scenic Fruit Company frozen fruit products due to an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses, which were sold to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets. In June of the same year, The Willamette Valley Fruit Co. also issued a voluntary recall of packages of frozen strawberries, frozen mixed fruit blends containing strawberries, and frozen smoothie blends, due to potential Hepatitis A contamination. 

In January of this year, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization released a joint report ranking the most viral foodborne illnesses, which included both hepatitis A and norovirus. As the report states, the foods most often associated with norovirus are prepared foods, frozen berries, and shellfish (ranked in order), while those most often associated with hepatitis A are also shellfish, frozen berries, and prepared foods.

Importantly, the FDA notes that since 1997, all outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh and frozen berries, and have not been connected to domestically grown products.

What is the FDA going to do to protect consumers?

The FDA has designed a new prevention strategy aimed at addressing “factors that may contribute to the contamination of berries with enteric viruses.” The plan includes promoting higher compliance rates with FDA food safety requirements, encouraging the berry industry to “identify and ensure consistent application of processes,” and working to “broaden scientific knowledge about the viability, persistence, detection, and mitigation of viruses in fresh and frozen berries, pre- and post-harvest environments, and agricultural water sources.” 

The agency also wants to incentivize stakeholders to further public health efforts by offering immunization programs for their workers to promote better health for both employees and consumers.

“Collaboration between regulators, the global berry industry, and other interest holders has been critical for the development of this strategy,” Conrad Choiniere, the director of the Office of Microbiological Food Safety at the FDA’s Human Foods Program, shared. “We look forward to ongoing collaboration with all interest holders to ensure the success of this strategy, and others, for the prevention of foodborne illness.”