Creative Gourmet pomegranate recalled after hepatitis A scare

The recall was issued on Saturday afternoon after seven people in NSW became ill after eating frozen pomegranates, a NSW Health statement said.

NSW Food Authority chief executive Lisa Szabo said genetic testing on some of the seven cases had identified a unique strain of hepatitis A, called genotype 1B.

“This outbreak appears to be linked to imported frozen product. Fresh pomegranate has not been implicated, nor have Australian grown frozen pomegranate products,” Dr Szabo said.

“Consumers with this product in their freezers should not consume it and should return the product to the place of purchase for a refund,” she said.

All Creative Gourmet pomegranate products with best before dates up to and including March 21, 2020, have been recalled, with Coles issuing a full refund.

“All product tested to date has been cleared and has not revealed a link to Hepatitis A but the health and safety of our consumers is of paramount importance,” Creative Gourmet wrote in a Facebook statement.

“Recognising any concern that may exist in the community, we are exercising abundant caution by activating this voluntary recall immediately.

“Consumers can be confident that the recalled product Creative Gourmet Frozen Pomegranate Arils 180g is an isolated one and no other Creative Gourmet products are affected,” the statement said.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that spreads in contaminated food or through poor hygiene, NSW Health Communicable Diseases director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said.

“Symptoms of hepatitis A take from 15 to 50 days to develop. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever and yellowing of the skin, dark urine and pale stools,” Dr Sheppeard said.

This brand, operating under the company name Entyce Food Ingredients Pty Ltd, was linked to a similar recalls in 2017 and 2015 relating to its frozen mixed berry product.

Creative Gourmet’s 180-gram packages of pomegranate arils (seeds) originate from Egypt.