Four individuals have been hospitalized with a life-threatening strain of E. coli following the consumption of recalled GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries. The outbreak has been linked to 12 reported illnesses in at least two states, with a total of eight states potentially affected by the recalled product.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a grower based in Chile, initiated the recall after laboratory tests returned a presumptive positive result for E. coli O145:H28, a particularly virulent strain. This strain is associated with a higher risk of bloody diarrhea and more severe symptoms, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication.
The recalled blueberries were sold in 10-ounce beige bags and were available at Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The affected products were on shelves between May 11 and June 5, with a "best before" date of February 9, 2028. The lot code for the recalled berries is 60401, which is printed on the barcode.
Public health officials, including the CDC, state and federal regulatory agencies, are investigating the multistate outbreak. Epidemiological data suggests that the frozen GreenWise organic blueberries may be contaminated and are making people sick. The illnesses reported range in age from two to 88 years old. Of nine individuals interviewed, seven reported consuming the frozen blueberries.
While the true number of sick individuals is likely higher than reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, the CDC notes that E. coli infections can take three to four weeks to be definitively linked to an outbreak. Most individuals with E. coli infections recover within a week without specific medical treatment, but severe cases can lead to HUS, which is most common in young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of HUS include easy bruising, decreased urine output, and paleness, and in severe instances, a kidney transplant may be required.
Consumers who have purchased the affected blueberries are advised not to consume them. They should either discard the product immediately or return it to the store for a full refund. Health authorities also recommend that consumers clean any surfaces or freezers that may have come into contact with the recalled product, and to throw out other foods that might have been cross-contaminated.
E. coli bacteria can survive freezing temperatures and can reactivate and grow when the food is returned to warmer temperatures. Contamination can occur if produce is treated with water containing animal feces. It is estimated that approximately 90,000 Americans and 1,500 Britons are sickened by E. coli annually, with about 100 deaths in the US and UK each year. However, these numbers are considered undercounts as many people recover without testing.