A NUMBER of Year 7 students at Ballarat Secondary College's Wendouree campus have been exposed to the frozen berries linked to an outbreak of hepatitis A.
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The Nanna's brand mixed berries were used to make smoothies in a cooking class last week.
BSC Principal Rick Gervasoni said a small group ate the berries in the class.
"It was only a few because some decided to use them, some didn't," he said.
Notes were sent out to parents of the affected students on Monday.
"We've responded as quickly as we can. As it is with people everywhere, (we used) the berries not knowing at the time," Mr Gervasoni said.
The school and parents will now monitor the students as they approach the 15-day point at which the disease can become apparent.
The note to parents listed the contaminated berry products and passed on advice from Victorian chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester.
"We are writing to you because your child may have consumed the product in producing a Berry Smoothy in food technology class last week, before the recall was issued," it said.
"Dr Lester's office has confirmed that the risk of exposure is very low but cannot be excluded.
"As for all people who have consumed the affected products, Dr Lester has advised parents and carers to look for symptoms 15 to 50 days after consumption."
The health scare reached Ballarat on Monday when local woman Trudie Sims recognised Hep A symptoms after eating the Chinese-sourced fruit.
Nine people have been diagnosed since eating the berries, with Ms Tims possibly the 10th.
The recall for berries was extended to Nanna's 1kg bag of raspberries on Tuesday.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include abdominal pain, nausea, fever and chills and yellow skin or eyes. Contact your GP if you believed you may have been affected.
