AHS issues hepatitis A warning on pineapple products

Packages were sold at Save-On-Foods

Several fruit products sold in Alberta in August may be contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, Alberta Health Services warned Wednesday.

The expanded warning comes after the health-care provider announced the virus had been found in a sample of Western Family brand fresh pineapple chunks Sept. 2.

The list of products now includes five products sold in Save-On-Foods stores in Alberta with a bestbefore date of Aug. 19. They are:

■ Western Family fruit salad

(198 g);

■ Fruit salad (227 g and 425 g);

■ Western Family citrus salad

(226 g);

■ Western Family pineapple chunks (served in 198-g ready-togo cups);

■ Pineapple chunks (fresh) (227 g and 425 g).

The risk of infection is considered to be low, Alberta Health Services said in a health advisory, and no illness has been reported.

Officials said the investigation is still ongoing and additional products and stores may still be identified. Anyone who believes they may have eaten the fruit is encouraged to call Health Link at 811 to monitor for symptoms.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver primarily spread through direct contact with an infected person. But people can also contract the illness indirectly by ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, dark-coloured urine and yellowing of eyes and skin.