The frozen berry recall linked to a health scare a year ago continues to haunt Patties Foods. In fact, the savoury pies and frozen desserts supplier is reportedly in the throes of separating itself from frozen fruit altogether.

The effects of the hepatitis A scare that led to the recall of its Creative Gourmet and Nanna’s frozen berry products last February lingers on despite tests finding no traces of the virus in recalled samples.

Nonetheless, consumer interest in the company’s pie brand Four’n’Twenty and Nanna’s Sweet Pastry continue to go from strength-to-strength.

UK-based financial derivatives dealer, CMC Markets, predicts the company will be able to distance itself from the berry fiasco in the second half of the financial year.

“It is no surprised they took this hit but there may be some hope that today’s result means they can finally put the disturbing events of last year behind them,” CMC Markets chief market strategist Michael McCarthy said.