An investigation has been launched after a ‘contaminated’ supermarket item has led to a worrying outbreak of Hepatitis A – Brits have been warned to avoid four specific things
A mysterious supermarket item has been linked to a worrying hepatitis outbreak that has left 58 Brits in hospital – and people have been warned to avoid four specific things.
An investigation was launched after a “contaminated” item and outbreak is believed to have left as many as 95 people ill. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed two different clusters of the virus have been identified. Brits have been given a list of things they should avoid if they want to steer away from catching hepatitis A. Investigators are working to uncover the origins of the outbreak – which has reported 54 cases since 2024.
This report said: “A particular food item purchased from a particular supermarket has emerged as a possible vehicle of transmission due to its frequent reported consumption.” The supermarket item has not been named, despite officials having concerns it is a “possible vehicle of transmission”.
Hepatitis A is a liver infection which spreads in the poo of an infected person, according to the NHS. The infection is uncommon in the UK but Brits have been warned about four ways they could catch Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A can be caught by:
- drinking unclean water
- eating food that’s been washed or grown in unclean water
- eating food that’s been handled by an infected person
- close physical contact with an infected person, including having sex and sharing needles to take drugs
The infection can lead to weakness, fatigue, a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever jaundice and abdominal pain. If left untreated, the infection could lead to liver problems in a small number of people. These problems could lead to liver failure and, in some circumstances, could be fatal.
Hepatitis A usually clears up on its own between three to six months and doctors could offer medicines to infected people to help with certain symptoms. The NHS recommends people who have contracted the infection should not drink alcohol, prepare food or drink for other people, and should not share needles with others.
People with symptoms have also been advised to limit contact with people for a week after their symptoms start, drink plenty of fluids and wash their hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, according to the NHS.
The first cluster of the outbreak – in which cases were identified between January 2021 and March 2025 – of the hepatitis outbreak saw 19 people be hospitalised with the infection. Most people in the first group were aged between 50 and 69.
The second wave of infections started in January 2023 with cases still being reported in March this year. No deaths have been linked to the report as of yet.
Public Health Scotland is taking the lead in the investigation alongside officials with the UKHSA. Hepatitis is more common in parts of the world like Africa, Asia, the Middle East as well as South America.
