More tests are being run on two brands of frozen berry products recalled due to an outbreak of hepatitis A.

Patties Foods has recalled packs of Nanna’s Frozen Mixed Berries after five people contracted hepatitis A after eating frozen berries – three in Victoria and two in New South Wales.

Three people in Queensland have also tested positive to hepatitis A after eating frozen berries, health authorities said on Monday, while NSW Health said it was following up other reported cases.

One of the infected is from Cairns, while the other two are from southeast Queensland.



Senior director of Queensland Health’s communicable diseases unit, Sonya Bennett, says there is a fourth Queenslander who has tested positive to hepatitis A but it was unclear if the person consumed frozen berries.

“Most of our cases in Queensland became ill in late January and early February,” she said. The virus has a long incubation period of up to 50 days.

Dr Bennett said people who have eaten the product should look out for symptoms such as fever, chills, tiredness, abdominal pain and nausea and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes).



Patties was forced also recall its 300g, 500g and 1kg packs of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries. All products are sold nationally in Coles, Woolworths, IGA supermarkets and independent stores.

The chief executive of Patties Foods, Steven Chaur, said quality control tests had so far not found any contamination.

“While our quality control testing to date has not revealed any indicators with the food safety of either product, further detailed microbiological testing is being done and the recall is an important step to ensure public safety and confidence,” he said on Monday.

“We have moved quickly to recall all our frozen mixed berries until such time as we receive the results of further laboratory tests.”

An investigation is continuing with state and national health authorities.

University of Melbourne food microbiology expert Said Ajlouni says the product, which is packed and sealed in China, was probably contaminated as a result of poor hygiene and sanitation conditions.



“If there is a sick employee in the company who went to the toilet, came back without appropriate washing of hands, he could have transferred the virus easily to the produce,” he told AAP on Monday.



Patties shares were down 10 cents, or 7.3%, at $1.27 on Monday afternoon, their lowest price in just over a month.



Chaur said it was too early to say if the recalls would have any financial impact on the company.

“This aspect of the recalls is also being monitored and the market will be informed promptly and without delay if there are any material developments,” he said.

Hepatitis A is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus enter a person’s mouth.