The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the all-clear on strawberries that were thought to possibly be tied to the death of a child in Hopkins County.
Trey Harris, 8, of Madisonville, died on March 15 after eating strawberries sold as a fundraiser by Madisonville North Hopkins High School and Hopkins County Central High School. The strawberries, grown at Southern Grown and Sizemore Farms, were distributed by Juicy Fruit LLC.
“The Hopkins County Health Department (HCHD) would like to advise that we have received the results from the FDA and state lab concerning the strawberries from the North and Central Fundraiser today. Testing of the strawberries was reported as negative today by the State Epidemiologist. The state Food and Safety Branch has also reviewed the reports,” the HCHD said in a social media post.
Multiple health departments in western Kentucky issued alerts regarding the strawberries following Trey’s death, and other people who ate the strawberries complaining of being ill.
Trey’s stepfather, 33-year-old Antonio M. Person, of Madisonville, was arrested on March 26 and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also served with two warrants.
Person was arrested after police obtained and served a search warrant at his residence in relation to Trey’s death investigation.
Authorities continue to wait on Trey’s toxicology results, which could help determine his cause of death.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
