The Flemish Health and Care Department says that 4 people in Flanders have probably become infected with hepatitis A after eating frozen blueberries bought at branches of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain. Earlier this week, the Albert Heijn removed its own-brand frozen blueberries from the shelves of its stores amid concerns about possible hepatitis A contamination. In the Netherlands 2 people have been hospitalised with hepatitis A after they had eaten blueberries they had bought at Albert Heijn.
4 people in Flanders have probably become infected with hepatitis A after eating blueberries bought at Albert Heijn
Published:
The Flemish Health and Care Department says that there are 4 suspected infections in Flanders. All of the people concerned say that they often ate frozen blueberries bought at Albert Heijn. 3 of the cases were reported in December and 1 case has been reported this month.
Joris Moonens of the Flemish Health and Care Department told VRT News that "Here there is a strong suspicion that the infections are connected to the blueberries, but we haven’t yet been able to test samples taken from the blueberries that they have actually eaten”.
It is unclear whether there are any cases in Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region. In Belgium, the Dutch supermarket chain only has stores in Flanders. However, two of its stores are very close to Brussels-Capital Region and two more are just a short drive from the capital.
Own brand frozen blueberries
The product concerned is the 1kg “AH-zakje” of frozen blueberries. Albert Heijn calls on anyone that has bought the blueberries not to eat them, but to take them back to the store where they will be given a refund.
The blueberries were sold between October 2024 and 13 January 2025 after which they were withdrawn from sale. The blueberries have a best before date of 14/04/2026.