Costco Offers Free Vaccines After Frozen Berries Linked to Second Hepatitis A Outbreak
In 2013, wholesale retailer Costco faced serious liability after packages of frozen berries sold at its locations were found to contain hepatitis A. The outbreak had sweeping implications, with a class action lawsuit indicating that up to 25,000 consumers may have been exposed to the dangerous virus. The berries were manufactured by Townsend Farms and labeled as an Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend. Soon after a product recall was initiated, Costco issued a warning advising individuals who may have consumed affected bags of the product to obtain a hepatitis A vaccine shot. The company stated that it would provide the shots free of charge to affected individuals.
Costco is facing another wave of liability after reports surfaced recently that the same frozen berries have led to an outbreak of hepatitis A in Canada. The retailer is again offering vaccinations to affected consumers. The frozen berries were manufactured by Nature’s Touch and sold exclusively at Costco stores in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Labrador, and Newfoundland. So far, at least 13 different cases of hepatitis A have been traced back to the contaminated berries. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has instituted a recall for the products, which likely sickened individuals between February 2016 and March 2016, resulting in at least three hospitalizations.