If you’ve read the latest list of the Top 10 Pesticide-Soaked Fruits and Vegetables to Avoid for 2022, you probably already know that non-organic strawberries are one of the most important foods to avoid.
Strawberry samples have been found to contain up to 54 residues of toxic, synthetic pesticides, a toxic load that caused one farmer to give up farming “conventional” strawberries to begin farming organic for his own health.
While the risks of these pesticides are well documented, organic strawberries have been in the news lately for another surprising reason: an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the U.S. and Canada linked to fresh organic strawberries listed under two brand names.
Two Brands of Organic Strawberries Implicated in Hepatitis Contamination
The strawberries were sold at nine major retailers between March 5 and April 25.
News reports are spreading the word to educate consumers who may have purchased them or stored them in their freezer.
The two brands found to be contaminated were FreshKampo and HEB brands.
Authorities are currently investigating a multi-state outbreak of hepatitis A infections linked to the strawberries.
They were sold at the following stores:
-Aldi
-HEB
–Kroger
-Sprouts Farmers Market
-Trader Joe’s
-Walmart
Current investigations show cases in California, Minnesota and Canada.