No trace of Hepatitis A found in mixed berry product, Patties says

After extensive testing, no trace of the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) or E. coli has been found in samples of recalled and non-recalled Nanna’s Mixed Berries, Patties Foods has revealed. The company says this result confirms that there was no system failure of its quality assurance programs.

However, the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) says that 31 HAV cases have been linked epidemiologically to Nanna’s Mixed Berries. DHHS has advised that the risk of further cases is low due to the number of new cases reducing and the cessation of the 50-day HAV incubation period.

There have been 79 cases of Hepatitis A reported in Australia this year - 14 fewer than at the same time last year.

Patties has started re-supplying all of its non-recalled Nanna’s and Creative Gourmet berry varieties (except the Mixed Berries product) to supermarkets under a ‘positive release’ regime for each batch - but only after independent laboratory tests confirm that the products are negative for E. coli and HAV.

“Extensive microbiological and viral testing conducted by Patties Foods shows no evidence of systemic failure of Patties Foods’ quality assurance programs,” said Patties Foods MD and CEO Steven Chaur.

“Our microbiological and viral testing does not confirm any link between Nanna’s Mixed Berries and HAV. However, we are guided by the epidemiology provided by the DHHS and accordingly have taken proactive and collaborative measures to ensure public safety.

“If our Nanna’s product was the source, the lack of laboratory findings from the testing conducted by Patties Foods for the presence of E.coli, coliforms or HAV indicates there has been no systemic failure. Regardless, Patties Foods has significantly increased protection measures to ensure that any risk is further minimised in future.”

The DHHS tested two open packs from consumers who had contracted HAV. Only one pack tested positive for HAV, but as the pack was already open it could have been contaminated post-purchase.

Eight random packs from supermarkets were also tested, with seven coming back clear. A trace amount of HAV was detected in one of the duplicate neat sample RNAs. However, quantification at such low levels is not precise, according to SARDI (South Australian Research & Development Institute), and the result doesn’t show whether the virus was viable. All samples returned negative results for coliform and E. coli.

The company has stopped importing from possible sources of the contamination and has increased its testing so all containers of imported frozen berries are tested, not just those from China.

It has also tightened its E. coli sensitivity tests from <3 cfu/g to a maximum limit of 1 cfu/g on all fruit batches - reportedly the most sensitive level of E. coli testing available.