Frozen fruits can be contaminated with germs
So much for all the benefits that frozen fruit promises. However, there are some disadvantages. You should not use thawed fruit straight away, but wash it thoroughly beforehand and heat it briefly – this is what we recommend Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and refers to one of the largest food-borne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Germany in 2012. Frozen strawberries contaminated with norovirus and prepared in commercial kitchens caused the outbreak. Norovirus can cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms with vomiting and diarrhea. In other cases, hepatitis A viruses have been detected in frozen fruit. These can, among other things, cause inflammation of the liver.
Robert Koch Institute: Contaminated frozen strawberries responsible for hepatitis A infections?
The Robert Koch Institute reports in Epidemiological Bulletin (2023; 37: 3-6) about several hepatitis A cases that occurred in Germany between January 2022 and September 2023. In 55 hepatitis A infections, it was proven in the laboratory that they could be traced back to a common but still unknown source. Many of those affected stated that they had consumed frozen strawberries in the past.
Hepatitis A outbreaks caused by frozen strawberries have already been observed in the past, so this suspicion is now also obvious. However, so far no specific product has been identified as the source. It is also unclear whether the products are still in circulation.
Why are frozen fruits contaminated with germs?
But how can this be explained? Due to contaminated irrigation water or poor hygienic conditions in the production chain, the germs can get onto the fruit. To be on the safe side, you should rinse the fruit under water Heat to at least 90 degrees for about 2 minutes before consumption – advice that you won’t find on the packaging.
The crux of the matter is that the germs are killed, but unfortunately so are the vitamins and nutrients. For this reason, it is advisable to use local and seasonal fruits every now and then and not to cover your needs exclusively with frozen food.
Tip: To avoid freezer burn, where nutrients are lost, make sure frozen food doesn’t thaw on the way home. Ideally, you should take an insulated cooler bag.