Brussels (Brussels Morning newspaper) – Hepatitis A linked to Albert Heijn’s frozen blueberries has sickened 12 people in the north and 4 people in Flanders.
The Department of Health has found four possible cases of illness linked to blueberries bought from Albert Heijn supermarkets. Joris Moonens from the Department of Care says the cases are based on interviews with the people who got sick. All of them said they often ate these blueberries.
Three cases happened in December 2024, and one was in January 2025. However, the investigation is facing a problem because the department could not test the specific batches of blueberries eaten by the individuals. Without these tests, the link is not confirmed, but the department has a “strong suspicion.”
Are Albert Hein’s frozen blueberries linked to hepatitis A in Flanders?
The Department of Care watches for infections in Flanders but does not handle cases in Wallonia or Brussels. This makes it unclear if there are similar reports in those areas. More work is needed to find the source of the blueberries and check for contamination. Until then, it is not clear how big the problem is or if it only affects Flanders or other regions.
“It’s a strong suspicion,”
says Joris Moonens of the Department of Care.
“We haven’t been able to test samples of the berries that those people ate.”
The suspected cases of illness are linked to a specific product sold by Albert Heijn. This product is the frozen ‘AH-zakje met blauwe bessen,’ which is a 1-kilogram bag of blueberries. In response to this, Albert Heijn urgently recalled the products and asked people not to eat them.
To return the frozen blueberries bought from any Albert Heijn supermarket, whether sealed or partially opened, shoppers have been asked. Albert Heijn will give the full refund after returning the products to Albert Heijn from where they were bought.
What are the health risks associated with Albert Heiin’s frozen blueberries linked to hepatitis A?
The recall is for frozen blueberries bought between October 2024 and January 13, 2025, with expiration dates up to April 14, 2026. Customers should check their freezers for this product to avoid health risks.
Albert Heijn acted quickly after the Department of Health reported four suspected cases of illness linked to the blueberries. They are taking steps to solve the issue while investigations continue to find out where the contamination came from.
This week, Dutch authorities found hepatitis A in frozen blueberries from Albert Heijn. The store removed the berries from shelves after talking with the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain. They think hundreds of customers may have been infected. So far, there are 12 reports, and 2 people are in the hospital.
The contaminated berries can cause health problems. Hélène Bonte from the agency said that while not everyone will get sick, serious symptoms can happen. These can include tiredness and changes in urine or stool color. In rare cases, it can be very serious.
Hepatitis A infection often spreads through food. There are many reasons for this. Moonens says that people often get sick after eating food while traveling in other countries. Some countries do not have good hygiene. In Flanders, people can also get infected from food prepared at home or from food workers who do not follow hygiene rules.
“We often see that people get infected abroad through consuming food,”
Moonens added
“That is because in some countries, the hygiene leaves much to be desired.”
