A Frozen Berry Recall Tied To An E. Coli Outbreak Just Expanded To Walmart
In early July, Publix recalled its GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries over potential E. coli contamination. Now, Walmart's freezer section is getting swept into the same ongoing outbreak investigation.
On September 2, the producer Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded the recall to include one lot of:
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10-ounce Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, containing strawberries, blackberries and blueberries, with UPC 7874211226, lot code 6040 01-6 and a best-by date of February 9, 2028.
The potentially contaminated berries were shipped to select Walmart stores in 16 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
No illnesses have been associated with this specific Great Value product to date. The broader outbreak linked to frozen organic blueberries from the same producer, however, has sickened 12 people in Florida and Georgia, with four hospitalizations and no deaths reported as of the FDA's latest outbreak update.
The FDA later classified the earlier Publix berry recall as Class I , its most serious recall category. That classification is used when there is a reasonable probability that exposure to a recalled product could cause serious health consequences or death. The newly recalled Great Value berries have not been given that classification yet.
E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea—which may be bloody—and vomiting. Most healthy people recover within about a week, but some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
If you have the recalled Great Value berries in your freezer, do not eat them. The FDA says consumers should throw them away or return them to Walmart for a full refund.
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