Fruit Recall: 11 Sick In FL Amid E. Coli Outbreak

Eleven people in Florida have fallen ill amid a recall of frozen berries from Publix due to potential E. coli contamination, the Food and Drug Administration revealed Thursday.

The major grocery retailer recalled its GreenWise organic frozen blueberries and GreenWise organic frozen mixed berries Wednesday, according to the FDA.

This was after Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. recalled a single lot of its frozen GreenWise organic blueberries on July 3. The blueberries were in 10-ounce packages with the printed lot code of 6 040 01 and had a best by date of Feb. 9, 2028.

The FDA said the blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., based in Chile, have been linked to the E. coli outbreak.

While investigating the company, the FDA said they grew concerned about another lot of blueberries used in frozen GreenWise products.

Due to this, Publix has recalled the following frozen berries:

• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 10-ounce, UPC 41415-06453
• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12053
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10-ounce, UPC 41415-06753
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12153

These products were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

As of Thursday, 12 people had been sickened during the E. coli outbreak, and four had been hospitalized. Florida and Georgia were the only states with reported cases.

"As of the end of June 2026, Publix immediately conducted an internal stop sale of frozen GreenWise organic whole blueberries and whole mixed berries. These products remain unavailable for sale," the FDA said.

E. coli, also known as Escherichia coli, is a bacterial organism that can be fatal. Symptoms are dehydration, fever, nausea and/or vomiting, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

The bacteria can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure, the FDA said.

E. coli can most affect children younger than age 5, adults age 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems and international travelers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The FDA and the CDC are investigating the outbreak. The source of the contamination is being determined, officials said.

Officials urged anyone who has purchased the recalled berries to not consume them but instead discard them. The berries can also be returned to Publix for a full refund.