The elderly and those with a weak immune system are particularly vulnerable to the virus and frozen raspberries should be boiled for a few minutes at least before consumed, the agency (Livsmedelsverket) warned.
The warning was issued against a backdrop of recurring outbreaks of the novo virus in Sweden, which is hit by the virus more often than other European countries.
One reason could be the fact that it’s common in Sweden to consume frozen berries without heating them.
In April, health authorities warned that a hepatitis A outbreak in Sweden could be linked to frozen berries. Experts with the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control (Smittskyddsinstitutet, SMI) advised berry lovers to take caution when consuming any berries bought in Sweden that were sold frozen.
In May, however, SMI tweaked its advice, saying it was safe to eat all frozen berries except strawberries.
At the time, there were 44 confirmed cases of hepatitis in the Nordic countries that could be traced back to the same source: 26 from Denmark, 10 from Sweden, five from Norway and three from Finland.
The virus strain was linked to frozen berries first discovered in Denmark.
TT/The Local/nr
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