Frozen berry imports rise in Finland amid picker shortage

Finnish supermarkets are stocking more imported frozen berries as a shortage of foreign pickers leaves domestic supplies short, according to the natural products industry group Arktiset Aromit.

The imports, sourced from the Baltics and Eastern Europe, carry a higher risk of foodborne illness than domestic berries, warns Niina Silander, lead expert at the Martha Organisation. She advises boiling all imported frozen berries before consumption, particularly for those with weakened immune systems such as young children, the elderly, or pregnant women.

The Finnish Food Authority notes recurring outbreaks linked to imported berries, often caused by norovirus or hepatitis A. Packaging instructions require heating the berries to 90°C for five minutes or 100°C for two minutes to eliminate potential pathogens.

Silander stresses that this guidance applies to all foreign frozen berries, including those from Sweden and other Nordic countries, as freezing does not neutralise viruses that may enter the berries via contaminated water.

Fresh imported berries, however, are considered safe to eat without cooking. With a strong wild berry harvest expected, Silander encourages Finns to pick their own this season, noting that domestic frozen berries carry no comparable risk and retain more nutrients when consumed slightly thawed.