FDA raises risk level to highest tier for recall of frozen berries sold at Publix
Publix announced the recall of four varieties of GreenWise organic blueberries and frozen mixed berries sold at its stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
File photo of blueberries
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded the recall of GreenWise-brand frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix supermarkets to the highest health risk level due to possible E. coli contamination.
The FDA classified the recall as "Class 1," the agency's most serious category, which applies when there is a reasonable likelihood that consumption or exposure to an affected product could result in serious health consequences or even death.
On July 29, Publix announced the recall of four varieties of GreenWise organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at its stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 12 people in two states have been infected with the strain of E. coli linked to the outbreak. So far, no deaths related to the outbreak have been reported.
The affected products have expiration dates prior to Feb. 9, 2028. The FDA and Publix recommend that consumers discard them or return them to any Publix store for a full refund.
The products included in the recall are:
GreenWise organic whole blueberries, 10 ounces, UPC 41415-06453
GreenWise organic whole blueberries, 48 ounces, UPC 41415-12053
GreenWise organic whole mixed berries, 10 ounces, UPC 41415-06753
GreenWise organic whole mixed berries, 48 ounces, UPC 41415-12153
Risks associated with E. coli
In the most severe cases, the infection can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication that can lead to kidney failure and be life-threatening.
The decision to elevate the recall to Class 1 comes one week after the FDA applied the same classification to another egg recall due to possible Salmonella contamination.
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