Publix broadens blueberry recall as E.coli investigation continues

A little over a month after the investigation began, retailer Publix has expanded its recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries to include all lots of four potentially compromised products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported. The decision comes after public health officials linked the SKUs to an ongoing multistate outbreak of E. coli.

The retailer said the recall covers GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce and 48-ounce packs, along with GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10-ounce and 48-ounce packs. The products were distributed to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Publix said it placed an internal stop-sale on the affected frozen products at the end of June, and they remain unavailable for purchase.

Traceback expands scope of recall

The expanded recall follows a July 3 announcement by Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. for GreenWise Organic Blueberries, 10-ounce, Lot Code 60401. 

According to Publix, public health officials used product traceback and epidemiological evidence to connect additional products to the investigation, prompting the retailer to recall all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries "out of an abundance of caution."

According to the retailer, the products may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O145, a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strain. Infections can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. 

While most healthy people recover within about a week, some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome. This serious complication poses a higher risk for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Publix advised consumers not to eat the recalled products and to discard them or return them to any of its locations for a full refund.

*All images are referential via Unsplash. 

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