The first wrongful death suit was filed in California Tuesday against Costco, Townsend Farms and other suppliers related to the 2013 hepatitis A outbreak linked to a Townsend Farms frozen berry blend product sold at Costco stores.
CDC identified pomegranate arils contained in Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend as the source of approximately 165 hepatitis A illnesses across 10 states. An investigation was launched by CDC in May of 2013 that identified imported Turkish pomegranate seeds were incorporated into the berry product.