Australia: Death linked to recalled frozen pomegranate

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Australia: Death linked to recalled frozen pomegranate

A woman in Australia has reportedly died after contracting hepatitis A from recalled frozen pomegranate originating in Egypt, local media report. 

South Australia Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the 64-year-old woman died last Wednesday after "some time" in hospital, according to ABC News.

"This is a rare and tragic case and I offer my sincere condolences to the woman's family," Professor Phillips was quoted as saying.

"The majority of people infected with hepatitis A recover fully and the woman's death is the only death linked to this recalled product nationally to date.

"The incubation period for hepatitis A is generally 15-50 days, so we don't anticipate further cases because the product was recalled two months ago. While we expect most people would have disposed of the recalled product, we urge everyone to double-check freezers and remove any affected products."

The Creative Gourmet 180g frozen pomegranate arils were first recalled in April after a hepatitis A outbreak in New South Wales. Then in May, SA Health again reminded people to throw away the product, made by Entyce Food Ingredients, after 11 linked hepatitis cases.

Professor Phillips said some 2,000 packets of the fruit were sold, the article reported.

There have been 24 cases of hepatitis A cases linked to the recalled product nationally, according to SA Health, including two in South Australia.

www.freshfruitportal.com

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