Hepatitis A pineapple chunks recall expands to other products

The Hepatitis A pineapple chunks recall, issued by health authorities in B.C. last week, has now been expanded to include other products.

It now includes the following items:

• Fresh pineapple chunks 227g and 425g
• Fresh peeled & cored pineapple 16oz
• Fresh fruit salad 198g, 227g and 425g
• Fresh citrus salad 226g

All products were sold at Overwaitea, Save-on-Foods and PriceSmart stores throughout B.C., as well as Ferraro Foods in Trail.

The products were Western Family brand, or unbranded, and all had a best before date of Aug. 19, 2017.

The original recall was for Western Family’s ready-to-go pineapple chunks, produced on Aug. 11 and with a best before date Aug. 19. They were sold in B.C. and Alberta.

“Hepatitis A is an infection caused by a virus that affects the liver,” read part of the release from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) last week.

According to Alberta Health Services, no illnesses have been reported in that province and the risk of infection is considered to be low.

A Hep A vaccine can prevent an infection if it’s given within 14 days after exposure.

According to the BCCDC, the disease can be life-threatening for the elderly or people who have chronic liver disease.

Symptoms can develop between 15 and 50 days after exposure.

Those symptoms can include yellow eyes or skin, fever, nausea, stomach ache or loss of appetite.

In B.C., you can have a free Hep A vaccine at stores including PriceSmart Foods, Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods and Urban Fare.

-With files from Estefania Duran and Jon Azpiri