Additional Coverage:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated the recall of certain frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix grocery stores nationwide to its highest health risk category. This update was announced Tuesday in an enforcement report.
Publix initially issued the recall on July 29, targeting four varieties of GreenWise organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries distributed across eight states due to possible E. coli contamination. The FDA has now designated the recall as “Class 1,” indicating a reasonable probability that exposure to these products could result in serious health consequences or even death.
To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported twelve confirmed cases of E. coli infection linked to this outbreak in two states. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.
The affected products, sold in Publix stores throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, should be either discarded or returned to the store for a full refund. All recalled items have expiration dates prior to February 9, 2028, and include:
- GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 10-ounce (UPC 41415-06453)
- GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 48-ounce (UPC 41415-12053)
- GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10-ounce (UPC 41415-06753)
- GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 48-ounce (UPC 41415-12153)
E. coli bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. In serious instances, the infection may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause kidney failure, the FDA warns.
This announcement follows a recent FDA upgrade of an egg recall to the highest health risk level due to potential salmonella contamination, underscoring ongoing concerns about food safety.