Walmart berry recall expands over E. coli contamination risk

The Brief

• Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 oz products have been pulled from store shelves as part of an expanded recall due to an E. coli risk.

• Food and Drug Administration officials said the items were shipped to Walmart stores in 16 states, which include Alabama, Indiana, and Texas.

• Consumers with the recalled berries can return them to Walmart to receive a refund. 

A recall has expanded for frozen berries sold at Walmart stores because of an E. coli hazard.

Food and Drug Administration officials said in a recall notice that there are no illnesses connected with the impacted item. 

RELATED: Publix expands frozen berry recall over possible E. coli contamination

On July 3, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. first initiated a recall for GreenWise-brand frozen organic blueberries , and it expanded on July 29 to include GreenWise frozen mixed berries, all sold at Publix stores. 

E. coli can cause illnesses defined by serious stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. According to the FDA, while most people recover within a week, some infections could result in a severe complication known as "hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)," specifically in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Which Walmart berries were recalled?

Why you should care

The recall covers Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 oz (including strawberries, blackberries and blueberries), with UPC: 7874211226 and a use-by-date of Feb. 9, 2028. 

Recalled frozen berries shipped at Walmart stores 

Local perspective

Local perspective: Food and Drug Administration officials said the recalled frozen berries were distributed to select Walmart stores in 16 states:

1. Alabama

2. Arkansas

3. Florida

4. Illinois

5. Indiana

6. Kentucky

7. Louisiana

8. Minnesota

9. Mississippi

10. Missouri

11. North Carolina

12. Ohio

13. Oklahoma

14. South Carolina

15. Texas

16. Wisconsin

Are refunds available for the recalled blueberries?

What you can do

Food and Drug Administration officials are urging consumers with the affected frozen blueberries not to eat them and to throw the product away or return them to Walmart for a refund. 

The Source

Information for this story was provided by a Food and Drug Administration recall notice. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.