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MONTREAL GAZETTE | Consumers urged to buy local as frozen imported raspberries are recalled

Published: 14 June 2019

Quebec recalled frozen raspberries imported from Chile this week over concerns they might be contaminated with norovirus. The norovirus is a highly contagious virus that continues to thrive when frozen and causes gastroenteritis, which manifests itself with diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. The symptoms develop between 12 and 24 hours after exposure.

“Local produce is a safer choice for Quebecers,” said Jennifer Ronholm, a McGill University agricultural and environmental sciences professor. She said “the raspberries were likely watered with water that was contaminated with human feces that came from someone who already carried the virus.” Ronholm said Quebec has a well-established infrastructure for treating human feces, so pathogens like norovirus do not contaminate waterways or municipal water supplies.

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