Importers of frozen berries will have to prove their fruit comes from farms and factories with strict sanitation standards after the nationwide hepatitis A outbreak this year.
With the product at the centre of the scare still off shelves, the Federal Agriculture Department enacted new health regulations, with the threat of up to 10 years jail if importers do not comply.
The department will also begin testing berries for E.coli after the rash of food poisoning cases highlighted inadequate screening and lax product labelling rules.
The source of the infection remains unknown but the only common element was all patients ate the same brand of berries. Tests on an unopened pack found traces of the virus.
The food safety watchdog says correctly handled berries do not pose a medium or high threat to health but the new rules require importers to follow good agricultural and hygienic practices throughout the supply chain.
These include no contact with faecal matter or animals, clean and sanitised equipment, the product stays frozen and clean water is used for growing and washing berries.
Wouldn't you think that would have been in place from the get-go?
