The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is renewing its appeal to people to boil all imported frozen berries before eating them.

The warning was originally provided last year when a food poisoning outbreak of the Hepatitis A virus, linked to imported frozen berries, was first identified in Ireland.

To date 1,440 cases have been reported in twelve European countries, the majority in Italy. 25 cases were reported in Ireland - 21 of which were confirmed.

The FSAI says people should boil the berries for a least one minute before they consume them.

Prof. Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI states: “The first indications of the outbreak emerged last year when cases of hepatitis A were identified to have the same strain of the virus as that causing an outbreak in Italy.  As contaminated imported frozen berries could still be circulating in the food chain, we continue to recommend the boiling of imported frozen berries for at least one minute before eating them.  This is a precautionary measure and will destroy the virus if it is present."

Also this month, a few Irish cases of hepatitis A have been reported to the FSAI which cannot be explained by travel abroad and investigations are underway to establish if there may be a link with contaminated imported frozen berries or other foods.