Frozen organic berries sold at Walmart in New Jersey are part of an expanded E. coli recall, according to an FDA notice posted Friday, Oct. 2.
Chilean packer Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded the recall to include additional lots of Great Value frozen organic berries shipped to 30 states. The recalled products carry "Best If Used By" dates stretching into 2028, so the FDA noted they could still be sitting in home freezers.
The recall covers two Great Value frozen organic products in 10-oz bags:
- Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries), UPC 7874211226, Lot Codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, Best If Used By Jan. 31, 2028, and Feb. 10, 2028.
- Great Value Organic Blueberries, UPC 7874211213, Lot Codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01, Best If Used By Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; and June 12, 2028.
Great Value is sold exclusively at Walmart. New Jersey was newly added to the recall's distribution list in this third expansion, according to Food Poison Journal. The previous recall had covered 26 states and Puerto Rico.
A Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend was also recalled, but the FDA said that product was not shipped to New Jersey.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. first recalled frozen blueberries in July after a multi-state E. coli O145 outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) closed its investigation Sept. 21, counting 17 infections, six hospitalizations and no deaths. All cases were in Florida and Georgia.
No new illnesses have been reported. The CDC told Consumer Reports it is not reopening the investigation. The FDA said the latest expansion followed new information from an onsite foreign inspection.
E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain. Symptoms typically start three to four days after exposure and can include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. Most healthy people recover within a week, but young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems face higher risk of a serious kidney condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
The FDA advises anyone who has the recalled berries to throw them out or return them to Walmart for a full refund. James E. Rogers, director of food safety testing at Consumer Reports, recommended cleaning up after discarding the products: "Be sure to also sanitize any hard surface they came into contact with using a diluted bleach solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water."
Residents with questions can contact Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. at 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, or by email at [email protected].
