Food Safety News | About Hygiene, Irelandhttps://www.about-hygiene.com/blog/2017-07-12T01:03:57+00:00Food Safety NewsWhat is Hepatitis A2017-07-11T19:50:30+00:002017-07-12T01:03:57+00:00abouthygienehttps://www.about-hygiene.com/blog/author/abouthygiene/https://www.about-hygiene.com/blog/what-is-hepetitus-a/<p>Hepatitis A infection is an acute disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.</p>
<p>Illness usually starts about 28 days after exposure to the virus, but it can start anytime between 15 and 50 days after infection. The most common symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue and abdominal pain, followed within a few days by jaundice. The disease often fails to show the noticeable symptoms or is mild, particularly in children below five years. Jaundice occurs in 70-80% of people aged over 14 years and less than 10% of children younger than six years. Symptoms may last from one or two weeks to many months. Prolonged, relapsing hepatitis for up to one year occurs in 15% of cases. </p>
<p>You should seek medical advice. More information on hepatitis A can be found on the <a href="http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Hepatitis/HepatitisA/Factsheet/" target="_blank" title="Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website"><span style=""><span style="">Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website</span></span></a>. </p>
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<p><b>How is hepatitis A virus spread? </b><br/> Hepatitis A is a human virus that is primarily spread from person-to-person via the faecal-oral route. The virus is shed in the faeces of infected people. It may also be spread through food that has been contaminated by infected food handlers or by contaminated water. People who have the virus are most infectious in the week or two before onset of symptoms and may be infectious up to one week after onset. </p>Frozen Berry Alert - Boil for 1 minute 2017-07-11T19:39:58+00:002017-07-11T19:48:48+00:00abouthygienehttps://www.about-hygiene.com/blog/author/abouthygiene/https://www.about-hygiene.com/blog/frozen-berry-alert-boil-for-1-minute/<p>The FSAI recommends boiling imported frozen berries for one minute before consumption as a result of reported outbreaks of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in imported frozen berries across Europe in recent years. This is particularly important when serving these foods to vulnerable people such as nursing home residents.</p>
<p>The FSAI first issued this advice in 2013 and re-issued alert again in May 2017 as a result of over 1,000 cases reported in 12 EU countries. </p>
<p>FSAI state contamination could occur on the farm, through use of sewage-contaminated agricultural water or through contamination by infected workers. Cross-contamination could occur post-harvest along the supply chain, through contact with contaminated surfaces of machines, equipment and facilities during freezing, mixing and packaging processes. </p>
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<p><b>Catering Alert</b></p>
<p>In 2015, an outbreak of norovirus occurred in a Swedish nursing home causing 70 people to become ill. Three deaths were reported to have been potentially linked to this outbreak. Microbiological analysis confirmed the presence of norovirus in the frozen berries.</p>
<p>Between 2014 and 2016, there were 20 alerts issued across Europe regarding norovirus and two regarding hepatitis A, linked to frozen berries. In 2017 to date (January to May) there have been 6 norovirus alerts but no hepatitis A alerts, linked to frozen berries. </p>
<p>When purchasing berries if the label does not state the country of origin, you should assume that the berries are imported.</p>
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<p><b>Retailer Alert</b></p>
<p>Retailers selling imported frozen berries need to ensure that the berries are sourced from reputable suppliers with an effective food safety management systems and comprehensive traceability systems.</p>
<p>If supplier cannot provide assurances over berries supplier, the FSAI recommends that the retailer displays a notice advising customers that the frozen berries should be boiled for one minute before consumption. </p>
<p><b>Consumer Advice</b></p>
<p>Food businesses using imported frozen berries need to ensure that the berries they use are sourced from reputable suppliers. If you are concerned about where the berries have come from, ask the food business and they will also be able to advise whether the berries were boiled.</p>
<p>If you purchase imported frozen berries you should boil them for one minute before consumption. Boiling for one minute will destroy viruses, if present. </p>
<p>The FSAI state there is ‘no evidence to suggest that fresh Irish or fresh imported berries are a risk. Fresh berries should be washed before consumption which is in keeping with the advice for all fresh fruit and vegetables’.</p>
<p>The FSAI state that tinned or canned berries have not been identified as a risk. </p>