Woman's death linked to frozen pomegranate recall
A South Australian woman has died after contracting hepatitis A from frozen pomegranate, which has been recalled.
The 64-year-old woman was one of 24 cases of hepatitis A nationally linked to the recalled product, including one other in South Australia.
A 33-year-old man was also hospitalised, but has subsequently been discharged, SA Health said in a statement.
Creative Gourmet frozen pomegranate arils were recalled two months ago after it was linked to a hepatitis A outbreak in NSW.
However, the incubation period for the infection is between 15 and 50 days, SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips said.
“The majority of people infected with hepatitis A recover fully and the woman’s death is the only death linked to this recalled product nationally to date.
“This is a rare and tragic case and I offer my sincere condolences to the woman’s family,” he said.
The case has been referred to the Coroner.
Frozen pomegranate sold by Coles recalled after hepatitis scare
Woman in serious condition after eating pomegranate bought from Coles
The majority of people infected with hepatitis A recover fully, according to the professor.
He added the woman’s death was the only fatality linked to this recalled product nationally, to date, and further deaths as a result were unlikely.
“The incubation period for hepatitis A is generally 15-50 days, so we don’t anticipate further cases because the product was recalled two months ago,” Prof Phillips said.
“While we expect most people would have disposed of the recalled product, we urge everyone to double-check freezers and remove any affected products.
“Fresh pomegranate and frozen Australian-grown pomegranate products are not affected.”
On 7 April, SA Health issued advice to the public following the owner of Creative Gourmet, Entyce Food Ingredients, initiating a precautionary recall of the product because of a link to a hepatitis A outbreak in New South Wales.
SA Health issued a reminder to the community about the recall on 8 May.
Symptoms of hepatitis A
Symptoms of hepatitis A include nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowing of the skin, dark urine and pale stools, and the infection can take from 15 to 50 days to develop.
If symptoms appear, people who have eaten Creative Gourmet frozen pomegranate from Coles should consult their doctor as early as possible.
Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
For more information on the Creative Gourmet recall, visit SA Health.
