Norovirus in Berries Has FDA Adjusting Food Safety Protocol
Berries can harbor viruses that can make you sick.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is trying to make the berry supply chain safer.
There are a few things you can do on your own to make your berries safe to eat.
Berries are a quick and easy way to get more antioxidants and fiber into your day. But these little fruits can harbor viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A, which can make you seriously sick. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing to update its food safety strategy to prevent berry contamination and explain safe ways to eat berries amid concerns.
In case you’re not familiar, hepatitis A is a virus that inflames the liver while norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S.
Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., is a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York; Darin Detwiler, L.P.D., is a food safety expert, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions, and professor at Northeastern University
The FDA’s strategy is designed to enhance berry safety from the time the fruits are picked through processing and beyond. But it also raises a lot of questions about how these viruses end up in berries in the first place, plus what you can do to enjoy them as safely as possible. Here’s what a food safety specialist and infectious disease doctor want you to know before enjoying your favorite fruits.
How can you get norovirus and hepatitis A from berries?
Berries don’t just grow norovirus or hepatitis A—they get contaminated with these viruses, and it’s often from people who handle and process the fruits, says Darin Detwiler, L.P.D., a food safety expert, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions, and professor at Northeastern University.
“Historically, lapses in sanitation have occurred due to factors such as inadequate worker hygiene, insufficient training, and challenges inherent in hand-harvested produce,” he says. “Berries, unlike fruits with thick peels, have delicate, porous skins that make them especially susceptible to contamination.” Meaning, that if someone has either one of these viruses on their hands and then touches your fruit, you may end up getting sick.
Norovirus and hepatitis A are what’s known as fecal-oral pathogens, which means you can get sick when you ingest poop particles that are on a person’s hands or an infected surface, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. “It’s all about sanitary conditions,” he says.
Making things even more complicated is that both viruses can survive freezing, Detwiler says. So, having your berries frozen vs. fresh won’t make a difference if they’re already contaminated.
How common are norovirus and hepatitis A outbreaks from berries?
It’s not common to get norovirus and hepatitis A from berries, but it can and has happened.
In 2022 and 2023, 10 people became sick and four were hospitalized with hepatitis A in California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, after an organic strawberry grower in Baja Mexico sold contaminated berries, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There have also been previous recalls of blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries over norovirus fears, according to the FDA’s recall database.
This is an issue that is happening around the world, though: The United Nations and World Health Organization called frozen berries contaminated with hepatitis A and norovirus a “global public health burden” last year.
What is the FDA proposing?
The FDA’s prevention strategy focuses on sanitation in the food chain. While the organization didn’t share specifics, the strategy summary notes that the agency will focus on proper hygiene in people who manage and pick the berries, management in sanitary facilities, new steps to keep fruit from being cross-contaminated in the field and during processing, and monitoring and limiting viruses in people who interact with the berries.
It’s important to stress: There haven’t been outbreaks linked to fresh and frozen berries in the U.S. in 35 years—instead, this has come from imported fruit. However, the FDA’s prevention strategy states that these strategies should be used “globally” to keep berries safer.
How to clean and safely eat berries
While there’s only so much you can do about your berries becoming contaminated, experts say there are a few steps you can take to lower your risk of getting sick from fruit.
One is to try to purchase berries that are grown and processed in the U.S. “If you want to decrease the likelihood of getting sick, don’t buy and consume imported berries,” Dr. Russo says.
It’s also important to rinse your berries under running water before eating them, even if they’re labeled “pre-washed,” Detwiler says. “Use a colander to let water flow over every crevice, rubbing gently to remove contaminants,” he says. Rinsing your berries won’t necessarily remove all of the germs, but it can decrease the amount you’re exposed to, Dr. Russo says.
Another cleaning hack is to soak your berries in a special solution. “A vinegar wash can help reduce viral loads,” Detwiler says. He recommends mixing three parts water to one part white vinegar, soaking the berries for five minutes, and then rinsing them thoroughly. Though, again, this isn’t a surefire way to mitigate disease.
Unfortunately, frozen berries are also a concern, which is why Detwiler recommends rethinking how you use these. “Heat is your best defense,” he says. That’s why he suggests boiling your frozen berries for one to two minutes and using them in baked goods or cooking them into compotes. “If using frozen berries in smoothies, choose pasteurized brands to reduce risk,” he says.
Finally, hand hygiene is always crucial. That’s why Detwiler recommends that you wash your hands well before and after handling berries. “Keep cutting boards and utensils clean—cross-contamination is an easy way for viruses to spread,” he says.
And, again, do your best to purchase berries that are grown and harvested near you. “Buy locally-grown berries,” Detwiler says. “Supply chains are shorter and safety is more transparent.”
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