OTTAWA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Hepatitis A virus has been found in a sample of fresh pineapple chunks sold in ready-to-go cups in two Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, according to CTV Saturday.
Provincial health officials in Alberta and British Columbia Centre for Disease Control say the Western Family brand cups were produced in the second week of August and were distributed to dozens of Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods and PriceSmart Foods stores in Alberta and British Columbia.
The health officials say the risk of infection is low and no illnesses have been reported. An investigation is under way and additional products and stores may be identified.
The fruit cups may have been on sale from Aug. 11 and had a best-before date of August 19.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is common in many parts of the developing world. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, stomach pains and jaundice.
Hepatitis illness can occur within 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus, but usually within 28 to 30 days. Anyone who consumed the product on Aug. 18 or later should get a hepatitis A vaccine, the authorities said.
