Victorian company Patties Foods has expanded its recall of more frozen berry products due to a possible hepatitis A contamination, with at least five people having contracted the infection already.
Following the food scare, farmers in Australia have demanded an overhaul of labelling laws to help people identify Australian grown and packaged food.
The company announced on Sunday that it was expanding its recall to include all 300g and 500g packs of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries. All 1kg packs of Nanna's Frozen Mixed Berries had been recalled the previous day following a warning of a potential hepatitis A contamination by the Victorian Health Department.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey blamed loopholes in the existing labelling laws, adding that many imported foods are being passed off as Australian-made.
Symptoms for hepatitis A includes abdominal pain, nausea and fever as well as yellow skin and eyes. Anyone showing such symptoms has been asked to consult a doctor immediately.
Director of New South Wales' health's communicable diseases branch Vicky Shepherd was quoted by the Guardian as saying: "An investigation by all health agencies is underway but at this early stage we are not sure how many people may be affected.
"There is the potential that others may be sick with hepatitis A now, or develop the disease over the coming weeks."
Tuohey was quoted by Australian Associated Press (AAP) as saying: "Our view would be to buy Australian grown and you're going to eat a safer, better quality product than imported. But quite often these imported products are packaged in a way that makes them look Australian made.
"We've been pushing for truth-in-labelling laws for years and it hasn't happened yet."
Image: Patties Foods has recalled its frozen berry products following a hepatitis A contamination scare which has already infected at least five in Australia. Photo: courtesy of rakratchada torsap/freedigitalphotos.net.
