Frozen raspberries imported from China made hundreds of people sick in Quebec last
summer and probably resulted in multiple deaths, according to a recent public
health report, says Dr. Doug Powell on his Barfblog website.
“The infected fruits led to a wave of recalls in August 2017 by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency because they had been used by a variety of food processors
such as brewers, pastry chefs and ice cream makers and had been cooked in
hospital cafeterias and residences for seniors.
“The raspberries were contaminated by Norovirus. At least 724 Quebecers fell ill, a number
that may represent just “the tip of the iceberg,” he reports.
According
to Dr. Yves Jalbert, director of public health protection at the Quebec health
ministry, it is clear that there were deaths over this period.
No specific
number has been given. Public health officials in Quebec do not track the
progress of each infected patient.
