Fruit sparks hepatitis A scare

FRUIT SCARE: Some apples and peaches sold in Rotorua were potentially affected by hepatitis A. PHOTO/FILE

Some fruit sold in Rotorua may have been affected by hepatitis A - but supermarkets are moving to reassure people that all fruit now on the shelves is safe.

A warning was issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries after it became concerned some royal gala and New Zealand beauty apples, and golden queen peaches sold over the past fortnight may have been contaminated with hepatitis A.

A worker at a Hawke's Bay pack house had been diagnosed with the virus, and could have been infectious during a four-day fruit-handling period.

While all the suspect fruit is now off the shelves, it was on sale between February 27 and March 13.

Countdown Fenton St was one of the supermarkets that received potentially affected stock but Countdown Central Mall did not.

A Countdown spokesperson said stock was withdrawn on Thursday night and all the fruit on sale now was safe.

Foodstuffs New Zealand group communication manager Antoinette Shallue said Rotorua Pak'n Save and Murupara Four Square were also potentially affected.

New World West End was not affected.

The news prompted plenty of concern on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page yesterday.

One woman said she had purchased and eaten "heaps" of fruit recently and would be watching her children closely for any signs of illness. Others described the scare as "crazy" and "scary as".

Ministry deputy director general Scott Gallacher said washing the affected fruit would not make it safe to eat.

"If you have any concerns that the fruit you have was on sale between February 27 and March 13, then the best thing is you either cook it or, if you have any doubt, put it out," he said.

Mr Gallacher said people should be on alert for symptoms of the virus. They included skin jaundice or yellowing of the whites of the eyes, dark-coloured urine or pale bowel motions.

Early signs of hepatitis A were a fever, a loss of appetite, stomach pains and nausea, he said.

Hepatitis A is an infectious liver disease that can be spread through personal contact and contaminated food. Symptoms can take six weeks to appear. Additional reporting APNZ