( CNN ) -- A frozen fruit mix commonly used in smoothies is suspected in a hepatitis A outbreak that has affected five Western states , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Thirty people have been infected with acute hepatitis A , and nine of them have been hospitalized . Infections have been reported in Arizona , California , Colorado , Nevada and New Mexico , the CDC website said Friday . Eleven of 17 ill people interviewed reported eating Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend , a mix of frozen berries and pomegranate seeds . Company records show that the fruit mix with contaminated ingredients was sent to only Costco stores , said William E. Gaar , an attorney for Townsend Farms . Costco has removed the product from its shelves , he said . The outbreak has been traced to a type of pomegranate seeds from Turkey that are in the Townsend Farms fruit mix , Gaar said . The mix contains pomegranate seeds and other produce from Argentina , Chile and the United States , according to the label . `` There is no indication that cherries and other berries are contaminated , '' Gaar said . State health departments , the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC continue to investigate . The company was notified about the outbreak Thursday by the CDC , which sent investigators to the Townsend Farms processing plant in Fairview , Oregon , Gaar said . Hepatitis A is usually transmitted via contaminated food or water , or by someone who 's infected , according to the Mayo Clinic website . Frequent hand-washing is recommended to limit the spread of hepatitis A . The highly contagious infection inflames the liver and limits its ability to function . `` Mild cases of hepatitis A do n't require treatment , and most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage , '' the Mayo Clinic website says . Severe cases can lead to liver failure and death , according to the World Health Organization . There are an estimated 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A annually worldwide , according to WHO . CNN 's Greg Morrison contributed to this report .
Thirty people have been diagnosed with acute type A . The frozen liver mix is commonly used in smoothies . The outbreak has been traced to cannabis seeds from Turkey , lawyer said . Hepatitis A inflames the liver and reduces its ability to function .