Raspberries Sold At California Stores Recalled Over Norovirus

CALIFORNIA — If you recently purchased some frozen red raspberries from your local WinCo, you should check the bag's UPC code. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recall Friday on WinCo frozen red raspberries sold at WinCo grocery stores in California and nine other states because the berries may be contaminated with norovirus.

As of Friday, there were no reports of customers becoming sick from the berries, the FDA said, but a sample did test positive for norovirus contamination.

The WinCo-brand berries were grown at Rader Farms in Washington state and were sold at WinCo supermarkets in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Utah.

WinCo Foods has removed the potentially affected product from its store shelves, and advises customers who purchased the berries to destroy them or return them to WinCo for a full refund.

Norovirus is highly contagious, with typical symptoms of norovirus infection being acute onset of vomiting, watery, non-bloody diarrhea with abdominal cramps and nausea. Systemic manifestations include, fever, myalgia and malaise, anorexia and headache. Although most symptoms end within 48 hours, the elderly, young children and immunocompromised persons may develop prolonged — or more severe — symptoms, the FDA says.

The recalled berries carry the label "WinCo Foods Frozen Red Raspberries" and were sold in 12-ounce bags with the UPC No. 0 70552 30501.

The affected bags bear an expiration date of Feb. 13, 2021 and are marked with the lot No. 4045902.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact WinCo Foods LLC at 800-824-1706 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. MST.

Neal McNamara, Patch local editor for Washington state, contributed to this report.