That bag of frozen blueberries in your freezer could be more than just a smoothie staple.
A recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and whole mixed berries has been slapped with the FDA’s highest-risk classification amid an investigation into a potentially dangerous E. coli outbreak that has sickened 12 people and hospitalized four.
The FDA has classified the recall as Class I, its most serious designation, meaning there is a “reasonable probability” that consuming or being exposed to the recalled product could cause serious health consequences or death.
Thankfully, no deaths have been reported, but the FDA’s investigation is still underway.
The 12 illnesses were reported in Florida and Georgia between May 11 and June 5, according to the FDA.
The recalled berries were sold at Publix stores across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
It started with a single lot. On July 3, Chile-based Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. recalled frozen GreenWise organic blueberries after testing flagged a presumptive positive for E. coli.
Three weeks later, the recall got a whole lot bigger — Publix pulled all lots of GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries from the shelves.
The FDA said Publix had also conducted an internal stop-sale of the products at the end of June.
The recalled products 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
The original July 3 recall involved a single 10-ounce lot with the printed lot code 60401 — also displayed as 6 040 01 — and a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028.
But the subsequent Publix recall covers all lots of the GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries listed above.
The products may be contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can produce Shiga toxins capable of causing serious illness.
Most E. coli infections resolve on their own, but certain infections can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and, in some cases, lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS — a potentially life-threatening form of kidney failure.
Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe complications.
According to the FDA, seven of nine people interviewed during the investigation said they had eaten frozen blueberries before becoming sick.
Five specifically reported eating GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries purchased from Publix.
The agency has not released additional details about the people who became ill.
Symptoms can kick in anywhere from several days after eating contaminated food to as many as nine days later, according to the FDA.
They can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
Some infections can cause bloody diarrhea and progress to serious complications, including HUS.
Warning signs of HUS can include easy bruising, decreased urination and a pale appearance.
In severe cases, kidney failure can occur and may require a transplant.
The FDA has a simple message for consumers: don’t eat the aforementioned recalled blueberries.
“Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries,” the agency warned.
Consumers should check their freezers and either throw out the recalled berries or return them to where they were purchased.
And if you transferred the berries to another container and no longer have the original packaging, the FDA says to toss them if you can’t determine whether they’re part of the recall.
Better to lose a bag of berries than gamble with a bacterial infection.
Any surfaces or containers that came into contact with the recalled products should also be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to help prevent cross-contamination.
Anyone who ate the recalled berries and develops symptoms consistent with an E. coli infection should contact a health care provider immediately.
As for how the contamination happened in the first place, that remains a mystery.
“FDA and state partners are actively working to determine the source of contamination,” the agency said.