Publix Sued Over Woman's Death Allegedly Linked to E. coli Blueberries
A lawsuit claims E. coli-tainted organic frozen blueberries sold at Publix led to a Florida woman's death and her son's hospitalization.
Publix is facing a lawsuit following the death of a Florida woman, Karla Mullins, who allegedly consumed E. coli-tainted organic frozen blueberries purchased at one of the grocery chain's stores. The complaint, filed in Pinellas County Circuit Court, also states that Mullins' son was hospitalized after eating the same product.
Mullins died on June 20, and the lawsuit was filed by her surviving husband and son. According to the suit, Mullins purchased the contaminated blueberries on or around May 21 from a Publix store on Ulmerton Road.
The E. coli outbreak was linked to organic frozen blueberries supplied by Chile-based Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., which issued a recall on July 3. Publix and its distributor, Quirch Foods, later expanded the recall on July 29 to encompass all of Publix’s GreenWise organic blueberries after the product was associated with a multistate E. coli outbreak.
The contaminated blueberries were distributed to Publix stores in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Attorneys for the Mullins family stated, “This family lost a treasured mother and wife because a product that was supposed to be safe was contaminated with a dangerous and deadly pathogen.” They added, “Karla Mullins should be alive today. We intend to hold Publix and Quirch Foods fully accountable for the role they played in putting this product on store shelves and into the hands of unsuspecting customers.”
The lawsuit alleges that Publix and Quirch Foods failed to adequately conduct inspections and quality assurance for the blueberries. As of July 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that at least 12 people in Florida and Georgia had fallen ill from the contaminated blueberries, with four individuals requiring hospitalization.
E. coli infections can cause symptoms such as stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems, children, and the elderly, the infection can lead to kidney failure or death.
Publix and Quirch Foods have not yet responded to requests for comment.