The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of hepatitis A associated with nationally distributed frozen fruit.

As of Friday, 30 people were infected with hepatitis A in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California. The FDA believes that the infections could be associated with Townsend Farms Antioxidant Blend frozen berries, packaged mixed berries usually sold at wholesale food stores including Costco. Eleven of 17 patients interviewed said that they had eaten the frozen berries recently. The agency says that it is inspecting Townsend Farms facilities in Fairview, Ore.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Usually the virus spreads through the ingestion of food and drink contaminated by the fecal matter of an infected person. Illness can occur anywhere from 15 to 50 days after exposure. Symptoms of hepatitis A include diarrhea, jaundice, fever, nausea, and loss of appetite, among other things. In people with pre-existing illnesses or compromised immune systems, hepatitis A can cause death. Otherwise, the illness can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Although rare in the U.S., hepatitis A is endemic to countries and areas with unsafe water supplies.

The FDA suggests that you see your doctor if you experience symptoms or think that you may have been exposed to the virus. People who have eaten or handled the frozen berry blend are at highest risk of contamination from the current hepatitis A outbreak. People with underlying liver conditions should strongly consider getting vaccinated.

Townsend Farms said that they are investigating possible contamination and reviewing what portion of the blend may affected. The company's attorney, Bill Gaar, said that the berry blend includes seeds imported from Turkey. The organic antioxidant blend is the only product that Townsend Farms has that uses those seeds.

"We do have very good records, we know where the (pomegranate seeds) came from, we're looking into who the broker is and we're sourcing it back up the food chain to get to it," Gaar said.

The government has yet to announce a recall. For now, the CDC recommends that consumers should not eat Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend and should throw it out if they have it in their freezers. The agency also recommends that retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve the frozen berry blend.

For more information, watch the brief video below.