Expanded Recall on Organic Frozen Berries Over E. coli Concerns

Product Recall Details

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a Chilean company, has expanded its recall of organic frozen berries. This expansion now includes a product sold at Walmart stores across 16 states in the U.S. The recalled product is the Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, which may be contaminated with E. coli O145, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This recall is part of a larger investigation into a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to organic frozen blueberries from the same company.

Health Risks

E. coli O145 can cause severe symptoms. These include stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. While most healthy individuals recover within a week, some cases can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome. This serious complication can result in kidney failure, and it poses a higher risk to young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

Important Information for Consumers

The recall affects Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold in 10-ounce packages containing strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Affected packages have a “Best If Used By” date of February 9, 2028, UPC 7874211226, and lot code 6040 01-6 on the front. These were distributed to Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Consumers should check their freezers for the product and refrain from eating it. Instead, discard the product or return it to Walmart for a full refund.

Previous Incidents and Current Efforts

The Great Value recall is linked to the ongoing federal investigation of E. coli O145:H28 infections. This investigation also connects to a previous recall in July of GreenWise frozen berry products sold at Publix, later classified as Class I risk by the FDA. As of late July, 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations were reported in Florida and Georgia, but no deaths.

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur expanded the recall on September 2 as a precaution, following traceback findings. No illnesses have been tied to the Great Value product.

Broader Food Safety Concerns

This recall occurs amid several federal investigations into foodborne illnesses involving pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Cyclospora. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 18,445 cases of cyclosporiasis from May 1, with confirmed cases in 49 states and the District of Columbia. A significant outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico contributed to this rise.