RICHMOND, Va. — There are now 28 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Virginia linked to Egyptian strawberries used by Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchises, and lawsuits are being filed.
News outlets reported that the Virginia Department of Health traced the source of the hepatitis A virus to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt and used in smoothies in July or early August. The department confirmed that all the potentially contaminated berries were pulled from the 96 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Virginia no later than Aug. 8 or Aug. 9. There are more than 500 franchises across the country.
A Virginia man suing for $100,000, and others have joined a class action against the company, whose CEO Mike Rotondo has issued an apology.