Chinese Raspberries contaminated with Norovirus

2006 - 2016 : 9 alerts in RASFF for products from China

Germans, Danes, Dutchs, Lithuanians, Belgians and Swedes have posted no less than 9 alerts for Raspberries and Strawberries from

 China in 10 years.

A new 2016 RASFF Norovirus Alert on Fruits from China

"#Norovirus (genogroup II) in deep-frozen raspberries from China https://t.co/Fq9v19NFO3"

Find out more about the previous RASFF Alerts :

Norovirus in frozen strawberries from China

A new alert has been registered in the RASFF system for imported Chinese strawberries on Aug. 8th, 2014. This alert followed a regulation for the control of Strawberries imported from China, for Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus detection (1235-2012, Alinea 4)

Large norovirus outbreak in Germany in 2012

A large massive outbreak occurred in Germany in 2012 (http://ceeram.blogspot.fr/2012/10/chinese-frozen-strawberries-source-of_6.html), during which more than 11000 children were found sick after consumption of norovirus contaminated strawberries originating from China.

What are food-borne viruses?

• HAV was first identified in 1973, and is a non-enveloped virus, classified within the genus hepatovirus of the picornavirus family. Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is highly contagious. HAV is  transmitted by the fecal-oral route, either through person-to-person contact orconsumption of contaminated food or water. For more information on Hepatitis A check the CDC website and WHO Website.
• Noroviruses are highly contagious and 10-100 viral particles may be sufficient to infect an individual. They are transmitted primarily through the faecal-oral route, either by consumption of contaminated food or water, or by spreading directly from person to person. Vomiting creates aerosols with high content of virus particles, which enter the oral mucosa or contaminate surfaces. The virus survives a long time on different surfaces and thus, environment may serve as a source of new infections. For more information on norovirus check the ECDC website