Canadian shoppers who keep frozen berries for smoothies, oatmeal or school-day breakfasts have a new reason to check the freezer. On September 15, 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency published a recall warning for certain Alasko frozen whole raspberries because of possible norovirus contamination. The agency says illnesses have been reported in association with consumption of these products, and its investigation could lead to additional recalls. This is not a warning to throw away every bag of frozen fruit: it concerns the specific products and codes in the official notice. Before making the next breakfast or packing ingredients for a shared meal, pull out the original raspberry packaging and compare it with the details below. The instruction for an affected product is clear: do not consume or use it.
Start with the 1 kg bag. The recalled product is Alasko Whole Raspberries (frozen), with UPC 6 95058 00205 4. Its listed codes are PO#138602, LOT# SY25314 and BB: 2027-NO-10. The notice also covers Alasko IQF Whole Raspberries in a 5 kg case containing five 1 kg packages, with UPC 1 069505 800205 1 and codes #Lot: SY25314, P.O: 138602 and BB: 2027-NO-10. Check the size, barcode number and printed codes together rather than relying on the front-of-bag photograph or brand name alone. If you buy by the case or split a bulk purchase with another household, check both the outer carton and any remaining inner packaging. Take a clear photo of the identifiers before returning or disposing of an affected item; it gives you something precise to refer to when speaking with the retailer.
The distribution list names Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. The warning is directed both to the general public and to hotels, restaurants and institutions, and identifies New Alasko L.P. as the recalling firm. That means the relevant check is not limited to a supermarket shopping bag: anyone managing a shared kitchen should review their stock against the same notice. If you transferred berries to an unlabelled container, look for the original bag, an order record or a receipt that can help establish what you bought. A purchase record may identify the product without proving its lot, so ask the retailer if you remain unsure. Do not guess that unidentified berries are safe, but do not treat unrelated frozen fruit as recalled either.
For a matching product, the CFIA says to throw it out or return it to the location where it was purchased. Do not serve it to someone else, donate it or keep using it simply to avoid wasting the grocery money. Norovirus-contaminated food can look, smell and taste normal, according to federal prevention guidance, so a taste test is not a safety check. Nor does a best-before date in 2027 cancel a recall issued now. The warning's instruction is not to consume or use the affected raspberries; do not improvise a home treatment as an alternative. If returning the product, contact the store about its process before making a special trip. The notice does not promise a particular refund amount, require a universal receipt policy or announce a replacement discount.
Keep the health information practical rather than trying to diagnose an illness from a shopping receipt. The recall notice says norovirus symptoms usually develop within 24 to 48 hours, although they can begin as early as 12 hours after exposure. Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps. If you think you became sick after consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider and mention the product and timing. Federal guidance warns that repeated vomiting or diarrhea can cause dehydration and advises drinking liquids to replace lost fluids; severe cases may require hospital care. The warning reports associated illnesses but does not provide an illness count, so none should be inferred. This article is a shopping and recall guide, not individual medical advice.
A freezer check is also a chance to prevent confusion in the rest of the household. Tell anyone who prepares meals where the affected package was stored and that it must not be used. Federal norovirus guidance recommends washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food, and after using the washroom or changing diapers. It also advises cleaning and disinfecting surfaces after an episode of illness. Anyone who suspects or has been diagnosed with norovirus should not prepare or serve food or drinks to others. These are general prevention measures, not evidence that every surface near an unopened recalled package is contaminated. For future bulk purchases, keeping the original label with a storage container can make a later recall check much easier than trying to reconstruct the purchase from memory.
To keep this disruption from turning into an expensive replacement shop, check what unaffected fruit you already have before buying more. If you need a substitute, compare package sizes and unit prices, and buy an amount you can actually use. There is no verified recall-related sale or guaranteed cheaper alternative in the official sources, so treat any replacement as a normal grocery decision rather than a reason to stock up. Most importantly, revisit the CFIA notice before using a questionable package: the agency says its investigation is continuing and it is verifying that recalled products are removed from the marketplace. Its general recall guide recommends checking the complete product details and subscribing to alerts. The useful habit is simple: keep identifiable packaging, check specific codes and follow the current official instructions.
Source trail: Canadian Food Inspection Agency — Alasko brand frozen whole raspberries recalled due to norovirus (September 15, 2026): https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/alasko-brand-frozen-whole-raspberries-recalled-due-norovirus Canadian Food Inspection Agency — What to do when a food recall happens: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-safety-consumers/know-about-food-recalls Public Health Agency of Canada — Norovirus: Symptoms and treatment: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/food-poisoning/norovirus.html Public Health Agency of Canada — Norovirus: Prevention and risks: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/food-poisoning/norovirus/prevention.html