Imported fruit linked to Aussie hepatitis outbreak

Friday, May 1, 2015

Australian farmers are selling more fresh berries than usual after imported frozen berries were implicated in a February hepatitis A outbreak, the Free Press Leader reports.

The outbreak has been linked to poor hygiene and water supplies in a Chinese packaging plant, Pork Network reports. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott supports plans for new Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) in response to the incident: "We don't want to add needlessly to the burdens of business, but we do want to ensure that consumers get the information that they need and the public is protected."

Otto Saeck, a blueberry farmer in New South Wales, told ABC Rural: "I think if you buy Australian fruit you're going to get good quality fruit; if you buy imported you have to take your chances unfortunately." By early March, 26 cases of hepatitis A had been reported, News.com.au reports. BF