Frozen blueberries linked to Dutch hepatitis A infections

At least a dozen people have been sickened in the Netherlands after eating blueberries contaminated with hepatitis A.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) received reports of patients with hepatitis A from two Municipal Health Services (GGD) in the south and southwest of the Netherlands.

Patients became ill between Nov. 26 and Dec. 22, 2024. They range in age from 25 to 79 years old. There have been 12 reports made to RIVM and two people were admitted to hospital.

After the reports, the GGDs involved, RIVM and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) started an investigation into the possible source of infections. Based on questionnaires with sick people, the source appeared to be frozen blueberries. Lab testing results received this week revealed the virus in the berries.

Retailer Albert Heijn issued a warning earlier this week about blueberries that may be contaminated with Hepatitis A. It concerns Albert Heijn frozen blueberries 1-kilogram with expiration dates up to April 14, 2026. The affected blueberries came from a supplier in Poland. They were sold from October 2024 to Jan. 13, 2025.

Albert Heijn said each batch is tested and previous analysis did not find hepatitis A. How the berries were contaminated remains under investigation. The batch with date April 14, 2026 includes 20,260 bags.

The berries have also been recalled in Belgium but no related illnesses have been reported.

Health officials in the Netherlands said although the risk is low, it is possible that people who have eaten the berries will become ill from the virus. People who have eaten them and develop symptoms that fit hepatitis A were advised to contact their healthcare provider. Boiling berries for one minute will destroy any viruses present.

About Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, fever, and stomach pains, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice. Handwashing and good hygiene practices are important to prevent transmission and vaccination.

The incubation period is 15 to 50 days, with an average of 28 days. The virus is spread by the fecal-oral route, usually by consuming contaminated food or water or through contaminated hands or objects. People are infectious from two weeks before symptom onset until one week after the onset of jaundice or dark urine. This means they may transmit the infection before knowing they are infected.

The illness is usually mild and lasts one to three weeks. Most people recover, but Hepatitis A can lead to hospitalization and severe illness, particularly in people with chronic liver disease. Young children who are infected usually have few or no symptoms but can still transmit infection to others. Officials also tell people not to go to work if they have symptoms consistent with Hepatitis A infection, mainly if they are food handlers, childcare workers, or healthcare employees.

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