FDA prepares strategy to improve safety of berries imported into US

Jakarta - The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed a new plan to improve the safety of berries specifically targeting those imported into the US, to reduce the risk of contamination with hepatitis A and norovirus or enteric viruses.

"The vast majority of fresh and frozen berries consumed in the US are safe to eat," FDA spokesperson Janell Goodwin told Health on Wednesday (12/2).

However, since 1997, outbreaks of enteric viruses have been associated with imported fresh and frozen berries consumed in the U.S., he acknowledged, reflecting the 2022 and 2023 hepatitis A outbreaks from berries grown in Baja California, Mexico.