Frozen Berry Recall Expands Over Possible E. coli Contamination — What Shoppers Need to Know

A frozen berry recall that began with a single blueberry product has now widened, bringing another popular fruit blend and a major retailer into the picture. The latest development adds a new product, more states, and a new set of stores for shoppers to check.

The investigation began after health officials identified a cluster of E. coli O145 infections in Florida. On July 1, 2026, the Florida Department of Health notified CDC partners about the illnesses, and interviews with sick people pointed investigators toward frozen GreenWise-brand organic blueberries sold at Publix, according to the FDA's outbreak investigation.

How the Recall First Came to Light

At that point, 12 people in Florida and Georgia had been infected, with illnesses beginning between May 11 and June 5. Seven of nine interviewed patients said they had eaten frozen blueberries, and five specifically reported eating GreenWise-brand organic frozen blueberries purchased from Publix.

There had already been four hospitalizations, although no deaths had been reported. On July 3, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile, recalled a single lot of GreenWise-brand organic blueberries because of potential contamination with E. coli O145.

The recalled blueberries came in 10-ounce packages with a printed lot code of 60401, shown on the package as 6 040 01, and a best-by date of February 9, 2028. The product was shipped to Publix retail stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The Recall Gets Much Bigger

The situation changed later in July when Publix expanded its action. On July 29, the retailer recalled all lots of GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries because of potential E. coli contamination.

The recalled GreenWise products included:

• 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

These products were shipped to Publix retail stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, according to the FDA's outbreak update.

As of the end of June, Publix had immediately conducted an internal stop sale of the frozen GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries. The company said the products remained unavailable for sale.

As part of the investigation, the FDA conducted a remote regulatory assessment of Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. and collected records from the firm to better understand its procedures and hazard controls, according to the FDA's July 30 update.

The FDA said it had concerns about at least one other lot of blueberries that was used in additional frozen GreenWise products. The agency also said it had concerns about other products from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. that had not entered the U.S. market. The FDA communicated those concerns to the firm and added products from the Chilean supplier to Import Alert 99-35.

Frozen blueberries from the firm offered for entry into the United States may be detained without physical examination. The firm may submit documentation demonstrating that it has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of a violation.

Then Came the Highest-Level FDA Warning

The seriousness of the recall became clearer in August. On Aug. 18, the FDA classified Publix's voluntary recall as a Class I recall, the agency's highest warning level, according to PEOPLE's report on the FDA's action.

A Class I recall means there is a "reasonable probability" that using or being exposed to the affected product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death, according to the FDA's recall definitions.

The enforcement report cited by PEOPLE said the recall included 44,994 units of 10-ounce Organic Whole Blueberries and 39,520 units of 10-ounce Organic Whole Mixed Berries. The 48-ounce Organic Whole Mixed Berries recall affected another 60,320 units.

The FDA's product record for the 48-ounce Organic Whole Blueberries lists 37,260 units affected by the recall. The products had expiration dates prior to Feb. 9, 2028 and were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The recall was voluntary and firm-initiated, according to the FDA's enforcement record.

Now, Walmart Shoppers Are Involved

Then came the latest development. On Sept. 2, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded its recall again, this time to include one lot of Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend, according to the FDA's Sept. 2 recall announcement.

Unlike the earlier GreenWise products, this recalled item contains three types of berries: strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. The affected product is the Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 ounces, with UPC 7874211226.

The specific lot is 6040 01-6, printed on the front of the package, and the best-if-used-by date is February 9, 2028. And this time, the distribution map is substantially larger.

These Are the 16 States Now Affected

The recalled Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend was shipped to Walmart retail stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin, according to the FDA's updated outbreak investigation.

That means shoppers in 16 states are now being urged to check their freezers for the specific Great Value product and lot code. There have been no illnesses associated with this specific product to date, and the recall was described as a precautionary measure following traceback information from the previous recall.

Consumers who have the affected Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend should not consume it. The product should be discarded or returned to Walmart for a full refund, according to the company's recall announcement filed with the FDA.

A Walmart representative told PEOPLE in a statement, "Safety is a top priority. When notified of recalls, we move swiftly to remove the impacted products from our stores and implement a sales block at our registers and online. We are working closely with our supplier, and customers who have this should discontinue use." PEOPLE reported on the expanded Walmart recall.

PEOPLE reported that it reached out to Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. for comment but did not immediately hear back.

What Shoppers Should Look For

For Walmart shoppers, the key details are the Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 ounces, lot code 6040 01-6, with a best-if-used-by date of February 9, 2028. The blend contains strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, according to the FDA recall announcement.

For Publix shoppers, the recalled GreenWise products include 10-ounce and 48-ounce Organic Whole Blueberries and 10-ounce and 48-ounce Organic Whole Mixed Berries, according to the FDA's outbreak investigation.

The GreenWise products were distributed in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Great Value blend was distributed through Walmart stores in 16 states, including states that were not part of the earlier Publix distribution.

The FDA advises consumers not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend or GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries. The agency's updated recommendations say consumers should check their freezers and throw away recalled products or return them to the place of purchase.

If a product was removed from its original packaging and there is no way to determine whether it is part of the recall, the FDA advises throwing it away. The agency also recommends carefully cleaning and sanitizing surfaces or containers that came into contact with recalled berries to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

The Outbreak Has Continued to Grow

The latest FDA update puts the outbreak at 17 illnesses in Florida and Georgia, with six hospitalizations and no deaths reported. The investigation remains ongoing, and the FDA has said additional products may be added as officials continue working to determine the source of contamination.

The concern is tied to E. coli O145, a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. The FDA's outbreak investigation says symptoms can begin a few days after consuming contaminated food or as late as nine days afterward.

Symptoms can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, including hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.

The CDC's guidance on HUS says warning signs can include urinating less often or not at all, losing the pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or tiny red spots on the skin, blood in the urine, extreme tiredness or irritability, and decreased alertness.

People with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys may stop working and they can develop other serious problems. Most people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some can experience permanent health problems or die.

HUS is most common among children younger than 5 who have diarrhea, although anyone can develop it, according to the CDC. For now, the message from federal health officials is straightforward: check the freezer, check the package details, and don't take a chance with a recalled product.