Hepatitis A Outbreak Possibly Linked to Fresh Blackberries Sold in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois

If you've purchased fresh blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market recently, don't eat them. And if you have eaten some, don't finish them off. There's a possibility they may be linked to an outbreak of hepatitis A in a number of Midwestern states including here in Indiana.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has issued a joint warning with the Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday regarding these berries, or as they refer to them "fresh, conventional (non-organic) blackberries," after confirming 18 cases of the disease. The common thread among the infected patients were the berries purchased at either Fresh Thyme, or another grocery chain called Woodman’s Market.

The joint investigation led to a Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market distribution center that supplies store locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, as well as Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

If you or someone you know purchased blackberries from Fresh Thyme in Evansville "between September 9 and September 30, 2019" then froze them for later, throw them out. If you purchased them and have eaten them in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated for hepatitis A, the FDA and CDC strongly recommend you contact your doctor immediately to discuss post exposure options.

[Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration]