Update: Another brand of frozen mixed berries has been recalled.

UPDATE:

A second brand of frozen mixed berries has been withdrawn from supermarket shelves across the country, as five cases of hepatitis A linked to the product are confirmed in New South Wales and Victoria.

One-kilogram bags of Nanna’s frozen mixed berries were recalled on Saturday as a result of the health scare.

The recall has now been extended to Creative Gourmet mixed berries in 300 gram and 500 gram packets.

Health officials have confirmed three cases of hepatitis A linked to the product in Victoria and two in New South Wales.

Consumers have also been told not to eat fruit from the Nanna’s one-kilogram packets with best-before dates up to and including November 22, 2016.

People have also been told not to consume fruit from the Creative Gourmet 300 gram packets with best-before dates up to and including December 10, 2017, and 500 gram packets with best-before dates up to October 6, 2017.

The berries came from China and Chile and were distributed by Patties Foods, which is based in Bairnsdale, east Victoria.

Previously, Mamamia reported…

One-kilogram bags of Nanna’s frozen mixed berries are being pulled off supermarket shelves across Australia because of a link to the virus Hepatitis A.

A spokesperson for the Victorian Health Department said anyone who had bought the berries was advised to immediately throw them away.

Stores are being advised and there will be advertisements in national newspapers on Monday.

For more: Raw milk recalled after death of 3 year old.

The company is fully cooperating with the recall.

The frozen mixed berries are sold mainly in Woolworths, Coles and IGA supermarkets.

Hepatitis A is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus contaminate hands, objects, water or food.

Read more: When food is a killer.

The berries came from China and Chile and were packed at Patties, a company based at Bairnsdale, in eastern Victoria.

The company has been contacted for comment.

Berries the ‘only link’ between cases of Hepatitis A

Dr Rosemary Lester, the state’s chief health officer, said frozen berries had been implicated in past outbreaks of Hepatitis A.

“Hepatitis A virus infection is uncommon and normally associated with travel to countries affected by endemic Hepatitis A,” she said.

“The only common link between the cases is consumption of this product. There is no overseas travel or common restaurant exposure.

“Sampling of the product will be undertaken to identify the virus but it is difficult to find Hepatitis A virus, even in a contaminated batch.”

Dr Finn Romanes, from the Victorian Health Department, said they were asking people who had eaten this product in the past 50 days to look out for symptoms of the disease.

“Symptoms typically begin with fever, loss of appetite and nausea, and can progress to jaundice, which is dark urine, yellowing of the eyes,” he said.

“In a very small number of cases there can be death associated with Hepatitis A infection.

“If you develop any symptoms after consuming these berries, please contact your GP.”

The berries have a two-year shelf life and any product purchased from October 2014 onwards should be thrown out.

“The company’s working with us to recall any product that’s on the shelves of this line at all,” Dr Romanes said.

“We’re really asking people to be vigilant for symptoms for quite a long period because it can take up to a month or 50 days to develop symptoms.”

Hospital listeria threat in mousse supplied to hospitals

In a seperate recall a number of hospitals have been told to throw out a chocolate mousse product, found in routine tests, to contain listeria.

Dear Premiers: You’re gambling with babies’ lives.

The mousse, which had a use-by date of February 14, 2015, was supplied to the Austin Hospital, St Vincent’s Private, St Vincent’s Mercy, Brunswick Private, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Ballarat Health Services, Caulfield Hospital, Sandringham Hospital, Frankston Hospital and Rosebud Hospital.

No cases have been reported, but symptoms can take up to 70 days to appear.

Most healthy people are not affected by listeria or show only minor symptoms.

“The issue with listeria is that it’s it’s an issue for people with compromised immune systems because they can become more unwell,” Dr Romanes said.

“As many people may know, some ready-to-eat foods and other foods that can contain listeria are dangerous for pregnant women their unborn babies and the elderly.”

The hospitals are notifying patients who may have consumed the mousse between January 29 and February 10.

“Hospitals are taking action to contact people and there hasn’t been anyone with illness identified so far,” Dr Romanes said.

This article was originally published by the ABC. It has been republished here with full permission.