FDA Expands Frozen Berry Recall to Walmart Stores
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded a blueberry recall first announced in July to include a frozen berry mix sold at selected Walmart stores in 16 states. The action concerns one lot of 10-ounce Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend packages containing strawberries, blackberries and blueberries.
The product was supplied by Chile-based Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. and may be contaminated with E. coli O145, a Shiga toxin-producing strain. The recalled packages carry the Universal Product Code 7874211226 and a best-by date of February 9, 2028.
The berry blend was distributed to Walmart locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Consumers who purchased the product are advised to discard it or return it to Walmart for a refund.
No illnesses associated with the mixed berry product have been reported. However, the supplier’s earlier recall of 10-ounce GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries followed reports of illness among consumers. Those blueberries were distributed through Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Seventeen people in Florida and Georgia have reportedly become ill after eating the recalled blueberries, and six were hospitalized.
E. coli O145 infection can cause severe abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Most healthy individuals recover within approximately one week. In some cases, however, infection may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially serious complication. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of severe illness.
Consumers should check their freezers for the identifying product details and follow the disposal or return guidance. The expansion broadens the recall beyond the blueberries sold through Publix, while authorities continue to distinguish between products linked to illnesses and those without reports yet.