A recall initially issued in July for frozen fruit has been expanded to include additional products and retailers due to concerns over contamination with E. coli O145:H28, a potentially dangerous strain of bacteria. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., based in San Carlos, Chile, has added one lot of 10-ounce Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend to the existing recall.
This specific lot was distributed to select Walmart stores across 16 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. The recalled product bears the lot code 6040 01-6 and has a best if used by date of February 9, 2028.
The original recall on July 3 involved 10-ounce bags of Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries sent to Publix stores in eight states. Subsequently, Publix expanded its own recall to include all lots of GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries in both 10- and 48-ounce bags. All affected products share the February 9, 2028, best by date.
According to data from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health, 17 individuals have been diagnosed with the outbreak strain of E. coli across Georgia and Florida. Of those affected, 11 out of 13 interviewed individuals reported consuming frozen blueberries. Six hospitalizations have been recorded, with no fatalities reported to date.
Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled products and to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. The contamination concern centers on E. coli O145:H28, a strain known to cause bloody diarrhea and more severe symptoms. Infection with this strain also increases the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication.
Individuals most at risk from E. coli infection include children under five years old and those with weakened immune systems. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. stated it is cooperating with health agencies regarding the recall.
While the precise source of contamination remains unclear, E. coli can spread through contaminated water, such as water containing animal feces. The bacteria can survive freezing temperatures and become active again once at warmer temperatures, posing an infection risk. Most E. coli infections cause symptoms like bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, with recovery typically within a week. However, severe cases can lead to HUS, a form of kidney failure most common in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
Although E. coli infections are widespread, with an estimated 90,000 cases annually in the US, many go unreported as most individuals recover without complications and are not tested.
The states where illnesses have been reported include Georgia and Florida, while the recalled products were distributed to a broader range of states. 
