Publix has expanded its recall of GreenWise organic frozen blueberry and mixed berry products due to possible E. coli contamination.
Publix has expanded a recall first issued in July to cover all lots of four GreenWise organic frozen fruit products sold in Florida and seven other states because of possible E. coli contamination. The recalled items are GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10 oz and 48 oz sizes and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10 oz and 48 oz sizes. The Food and Drug Administration is advising shoppers not to eat the products and to throw them away or return them to any Publix store for a full refund.
Publix shoppers who keep bags of GreenWise organic frozen berries in the freezer are being told to check the packaging closely, after the grocery chain widened a recall first issued in July over possible E. coli contamination.
The expanded recall, detailed in a notice from the Food and Drug Administration, now covers every lot of four GreenWise frozen fruit products rather than the single lot of blueberries originally flagged. The products affected are GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce bags (UPC 41415-06453) and 48-ounce bags (UPC 41415-12053), along with GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10-ounce bags (UPC 41415-06753) and 48-ounce bags (UPC 41415-12153). The recall applies to Publix stores in Florida and seven other states.
The FDA is telling consumers not to eat any of the listed products. Anyone who has them in a freezer should throw them out. Shoppers can also bring the packages, or just the receipt if the product has already been eaten or discarded, to any Publix location for a full refund.
Publix has not said publicly how the contamination was discovered or whether any illnesses in Florida have been linked to the berries so far. The original recall in July covered only one lot of the organic blueberries. The expanded recall now covers all lots of all four products, regardless of when they were produced.
E. coli infections typically bring on severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms usually show up three to four days after someone eats contaminated food, and most healthy adults recover within five to seven days without medical treatment. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of complications, including a type of kidney failure that can follow severe E. coli infections.
Frozen fruit can sit in a home freezer for weeks or months before it's used, often in smoothies or baked goods that involve little or no cooking. That means a recalled batch can still be in a household long after the notice goes out.
The GreenWise line is Publix's in-house organic and natural foods brand, sold at its supermarkets across Florida and the seven other states served by the chain, including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. The frozen berries are commonly stocked alongside other GreenWise frozen fruit and vegetable items in the freezer aisle.
Publix customers who bought any of the four recalled items can check the UPC code printed on the bag against the list to confirm whether their purchase is affected, since the expanded recall now applies regardless of lot number or purchase date. The company's return policy for recalled items does not require a receipt.
Publix has not said when or whether GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries will return to store shelves. Shoppers with symptoms consistent with E. coli infection after eating the recalled berries are advised to contact a doctor and can also report the illness to the FDA through its MedWatch safety reporting system.
