NZ: Increased surveillance of imported frozen berry products
Ministry for Primary Industries: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General has issued a statement warning of a potential risk associated with imported frozen berries, following 4 human cases of Hepatitis A thought to be linked to packaged imported frozen berries.
The Ministry has instituted a surveillance programme, including additional testing, focussed on imported frozen berries.
The Ministry’s Director of Plants, Food and Environment, Peter Thomson says the safety of consumers is MPI’s number one priority in taking the new measures.
“Our investigations to date have not revealed a specific cause, but there is an association with consuming imported frozen berries. Recent outbreaks in other countries also suggest this link.