The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a significant new initiative aimed at preventing contamination of fresh and frozen berries with norovirus and hepatitis A. With berries becoming an unexpected vehicle for these dangerous enteric viruses in recent years, the FDA’s new measures focus on enhancing sanitation and preventing outbreaks before they occur.
Berries Under Scrutiny: A Global Concern
While berries are celebrated for their health benefits, they have posed challenges to food safety officials worldwide. Fragile and often hand-picked, berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are highly susceptible to contamination during harvesting, handling, and processing.
This issue isn’t confined to the U.S. In 2024, a joint panel from the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) identified contaminated frozen berries as one of the highest global public health concerns. The recent FDA strategy highlights how interconnected food systems require proactive measures to protect consumers from illnesses linked to imported and domestically produced food products.
Why Berries Are At Risk?
The main culprits driving the FDA’s action are norovirus, the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., and hepatitis A, a virus that attacks the liver and can cause severe illness in vulnerable populations. Both viruses are highly infectious and primarily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, water, or food.
One challenge with berries is their reliance on manual harvesting. Workers who are ill or fail to adhere to proper hygiene practices may inadvertently transfer these viruses onto the fruit. According to Dr. Benjamin Chapman, a food safety expert at North Carolina State University, contamination from field workers has been a root cause of several past outbreaks.
Adding to the problem, freezing does not kill these pathogens. In fact, viruses like norovirus can remain infectious even when frozen for extended periods.
Once these fruits are contaminated, the damage is difficult to reverse. “If you try to wash, say, a raspberry in any commercial way, you end up with pulp,” Chapman explains.
Previous Outbreaks Drive Action
Although no outbreaks of enteric viruses have been linked to U.S.-grown berries in the past 35 years, imported have been a different story. In recent years, multiple outbreaks of hepatitis A in the U.S. have been traced back to imported fresh and frozen berries.
The most recent cases, reported in 2022 and 2023, involved organic strawberries from Baja Mexico. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this outbreak caused 10 illnesses and four hospitalizations across several states, including California and Hawaii.
The FDA’s Prevention Strategy
The FDA’s newly announced strategy aims to reduce contamination risks at every stage of berry production, from farm to table. Key components of the plan include:
- Improved worker hygiene: Ensuring field workers follow strict sanitation protocols to reduce contamination risks during harvesting.
- Enhanced sanitary facilities: Providing proper washing and restroom facilities for farm and processing workers.
- Minimized cross-contamination: Introducing measures to prevent them from coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or water.
- Health monitoring: Strengthening procedures to identify and exclude sick workers.
The FDA also plans to invest in scientific research to better understand how viruses attach to berries and what methods could be used to eliminate them.
A Step Forward, But Challenges Remain
Food safety experts have lauded the FDA’s efforts as an important step forward in protecting consumers, but challenges remain. The delicate nature of berries means there are few options for post-harvest intervention, leaving little room for error in the early stages of production.
Despite these obstacles, experts are optimistic about the potential for the new measures to reduce the risk of future outbreaks. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, points out that while the risk to individual consumers is relatively low, the steps being taken could have a significant impact in preventing large-scale incidents.
What This Means For Consumers?
For the average berry lover, the FDA’s initiative is unlikely to change how they shop or eat. However, it does offer reassurance that the government is taking proactive steps to safeguard public health. Consumers can also do their part by washing berries thoroughly before consumption, even if they are labeled as pre-washed, and ensuring they purchase from reputable sources.
