Just when shoppers thought that the months-long frozen berry recall was winding down, there’s another update.
And this time, more products sold by some of the country’s most widely accessible retailers are involved.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. has expanded its recall of frozen organic berries due to potential E. coli contamination, adding more products sold at Walmart and, for the first time, at Trader Joe’s.
The latest announcement comes less than two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the outbreak over.
The Chilean supplier is the same company behind the recall that began with frozen blueberries sold at Publix in July and later expanded to Walmart, TheStreet reported.
Now, additional lots of Walmart’s Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend and Organic Blueberries, along with Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend, have been added to the recall.
For shoppers, the timing is important to note.
Some of the affected frozen fruit carries dates stretching into June 2028, meaning recalled bags could remain tucked away in household freezers long after the outbreak itself ended.
Walmart, Trader Joe’s frozen berries added to recall
The latest expansion covers Great Value products shipped to select Walmart stores across 30 states and Puerto Rico, according to a company announcement posted by the Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 2.
The states include New York, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, among others.
The Trader Joe’s product was shipped to select stores in 26 states and Washington, D.C.
See the complete list here to find if your state is affected.
The recalled products include:
Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 oz (includes strawberries, blueberries and blackberries)
UPC: 7874211226
Lot codes: 6 031 01 and 6 041 01
Best if used by: Jan. 31, 2028, and Feb. 10, 2028
Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10 oz.
UPC: 7874211213
Lot codes: 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01
Best if used by: Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; and June 12, 2028
Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12 oz.
UPC: 00977654
Lot code: 6 051 01
Best before: Feb. 20, 2028
Consumers who have the affected products should not eat them and should instead discard them or return them to Walmart or Trader Joe’s for a full refund.
Here’s some of my coverage of major food recalls:
- Kroger: More than 19 million eggs sold under Kroger and other brands were recalled over contamination risk.
- Walmart and Harris Teeter: Outshine fruit bars sold nationwide were recalled after consumers reported finding glass in the products.
- Walmart bakery: More than 735,000 Pillsbury bread rolls supplied to Walmart bakeries were recalled over possible glass contamination.
No other frozen berry products from Walmart or Trader Joe’s are included in the latest recall.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur said the expansion is a precautionary measure following traceback information linked to the frozen blueberries that were part of its original July recall.
Frozen berry recall started at Publix
The latest announcement marks another expansion of a recall that has been unfolding for months.
On July 3, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur first recalled a lot of GreenWise Organic Frozen Blueberries sold at Publix after the product was linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak.
I reported at the time that the recall involved 10-ounce bags with a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028.
The recall later grew significantly.
Publix expanded its action to all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries sold across eight states.
The FDA said Publix tested samples of its GreenWise frozen blueberries, and one tested positive for the same E. coli O145 strain linked to the outbreak.
The recall reached Walmart in September when Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur recalled a lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend.
The Oct. 2 expansion adds more lots of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend as well as Great Value Organic Blueberries and Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend.
What started with a lot of Publix frozen blueberries has now expanded over several months to include multiple frozen berry products carrying brands sold by three major grocery retailers.
E. coli outbreak sickened 17 people
The recalls are linked to an E. coli O145 outbreak that sickened 17 people in Florida and Georgia, according to the FDA.
Six people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
Of the 13 people interviewed by health officials, 11 (85%) reported eating frozen blueberries.
Illnesses began between May 11 and Aug. 2.
During the investigation, FDA samples of finished products tested negative for E. coli.
However, Publix separately collected samples of its GreenWise Organic Frozen Blueberries, and one tested positive for E. coli O145.
The CDC declared the outbreak over on Sept. 21, while the FDA said its outbreak investigation was complete.
But that did not mean all potentially affected products were necessarily gone from consumers’ homes.
The FDA specifically warned shoppers that recalled products have dates ending in 2028 and urged consumers to check their freezers.
Less than two weeks after the outbreak was declared over, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur announced its latest recall expansion.
The FDA has also placed frozen blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur on an import alert, allowing shipments offered for entry into the U.S. to be detained without physical examination.
What shoppers should know about E. coli
E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain of E. coli that can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Most healthy people recover within about a week, but some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a potentially serious complication that can result in kidney failure.
Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness.
The newly recalled products carry dates as far out as June 2028, so ensure to check freezers and discard the product at the earliest.
For any other information, consumers can contact [email protected].
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