TUSCALOOSA, AL — Federal officials are urging Alabama consumers to check their freezers after a recall of frozen organic berries potentially contaminated with E. coli was expanded to include additional products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's stores in the state.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a supplier based in San Carlos, Chile, expanded its recall Oct. 2 to include additional lots of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend and Great Value Organic Blueberries, along with one lot of Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend.
The FDA says products were distributed in Florida and numerous other states.
According to the recall notice, the Great Value products were sent to select Walmart stores in 30 states and Puerto Rico, while the Trader Joe's berries were distributed to stores in 26 states and Washington, D.C.
The expanded recall includes:
Federal and state health officials investigated 17 cases in Florida and Georgia, with illnesses beginning between May 11 and Aug. 2.
Six people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. Of 13 patients interviewed, 11 reported eating frozen blueberries.
The outbreak was declared on Sept. 21, but the FDA said additional potentially contaminated products were subsequently identified, prompting the expanded recall.
No cases have been reported in Alabama as of the publication of this story.
The investigation initially centered on GreenWise-brand frozen organic blueberries sold at Publix.
The FDA said Publix testing found a sample of GreenWise frozen blueberries positive for the same strain of E. coli associated with the illnesses, according to the FDA.
Publix previously recalled GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries sold in Florida and seven other states.
Consumers with any of the newly recalled Great Value or Trader Joe's products should not eat them. The FDA says the berries should be thrown away or returned to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a refund.
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