Publix Frozen Blueberries Just Received the FDA’s Highest Recall Warning
Frozen blueberries have a pretty important job during summer smoothie season. But some of your bags from Publix need to stay out of the blender.
The FDA has now classified its Publix blueberry recall as Class I, the highest warning level. The recall involves GreenWise organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries because they may be contaminated with E. coli.
Here’s what to look for.
Check Your GreenWise Frozen Blueberries
Publix recalled four lots of GreenWise products:
Organic Whole Blueberries, 10 oz: UPC 41415-06453
Organic Whole Blueberries, 48 oz: UPC 41415-12053
Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10 oz: UPC 41415-06753
Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 48 oz: UPC 41415-12153
The berries were shipped to Publix stores in:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
Publix stopped selling the products at the end of June.
What Does a Class I Recall Mean?
The berries were originally recalled over the summer, but there’s a reason they’re making headlines again.
On August 18th, the FDA classified the recall as Class I. That’s the agency’s most serious classification and means there’s a reasonable probability that exposure to the product could cause serious health consequences or death.
That makes this FDA Class I recall worth another look, especially since frozen fruit has a habit of hanging around for a while.
Why Were the Berries Recalled?
The frozen blueberry recall is connected to the potential contamination of E. coli. According to the FDA, 12 illnesses in Florida and Georgia have been linked to the outbreak strain.
Four people were hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Symptoms of an E. coli infection can include:
Severe stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Nausea
Fever
Vomiting
Some infections can lead to a serious form of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Check the Freezer Before Your Next Smoothie
If you have any of the recalled berries, don’t use them. Throw them away or return them to Publix for a refund.
You should also clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the berries may have touched. And if you froze the berries without their original packaging and don’t know if they’re part of the E. coli recall, throw them away, too.
Your next smoothie can wait for a fresh bag of berries.
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