Class I Recall Slams Walmart Favorite

HUGE WALMART RECALL

The frozen blueberry outbreak did not stop at blueberries, and now Walmart berry blends in 16 states are on the line.

Story Snapshot

Federal regulators tied E. coli O145:H28 illnesses to frozen organic blueberries from a Chilean supplier.
The supplier recalled GreenWise Organic 10-ounce blueberries; Publix later expanded to all lots and mixed berries.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elevated the recall to its highest risk level, Class I.
The recall now covers certain mixed berry blends sold at Walmart in 16 states, officials say.

Regulators link outbreak to a single supplier and strain

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a multistate outbreak of E. coli O145:H28 linked to frozen organic blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile.

The company initiated a recall on July 3 for GreenWise Organic 10-ounce frozen blueberries after tests indicated contamination, and illnesses matched the outbreak strain. Federal investigators used interviews and store loyalty data to trace purchases back to the same supplier.

Publix then recalled all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries as a precaution once the link solidified.

The Food and Drug Administration classified the situation as a Class I recall, which it reserves for a reasonable probability of serious health harm if consumed.

That label is rare and signals urgency for shoppers to check their freezers. Retailers posted notices and pulled products while federal traceback work continued.

Case counts rise as warnings expand

Federal updates showed illnesses rising over the summer, with reports across Florida and Georgia and several hospitalizations as the investigation unfolded.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled frozen blueberries or mixed berries from the linked supplier.

These warnings reflect a pattern in outbreak response: act fast when a ready-to-eat food is plausibly tied to a pathogen, because freezing preserves bacteria rather than kills it.

Officials also flagged the long shelf life problem. Frozen fruits sit in home freezers for months, so standard recall signs at store doors miss many households. That is why agencies keep pushing repeat alerts even weeks after the first recall notice.

The message stays plain: check brand, lot, and size against recall lists, and when in doubt, throw it out or return it for a refund. One caveat applies in all such events: an outbreak update can change as new data arrives, but the advice to avoid recalled items does not.

Walmart mixed berry blends join the recall footprint

The recall now reaches beyond Publix. The Food and Drug Administration confirmed that frozen mixed berry packages, including strawberry, blackberry, and blueberry blends sold at Walmart in 16 states, are included due to the same E. coli risk and supplier connection.

This step matters for scale. Walmart’s footprint ensures more freezers carry the product, and more families use the fruit in smoothies, desserts, and lunch boxes. Consumers should scan their freezers for the named blends and follow the disposal or return guidance.

E coli blueberry recall expanding to frozen mixed berry packages sold at Walmarts in 16 states #Walmart #Tennessee #FDA #Publichealth #Foodsafety https://t.co/JbZzshGyw1

— RAMONA arnold (@arnold_ramona) September 5, 2026

Common sense lines up with the facts here: do not gamble with a food tied to a Class I recall. Personal responsibility beats panic. Check the label, act if it matches, and move on.

Regulators did what they should do in a fast-moving outbreak: follow the data and widen the recall when evidence points to risk. Companies that source, pack, and sell food must also own the fix, from supplier controls to better lot tracking that lets families act fast without guesswork.

What to do now and why it works

Families should pull any GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, all lots and sizes, plus the Walmart-listed mixed berry blends tied to the recall, and discard or return them.

Clean the freezer shelf, scoop, and blender cup with hot, soapy water, then sanitize surfaces that touched thawed fruit. Watch for symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Seek care if severe or if symptoms persist, and tell a clinician about the recalled product.

Freezing does not kill E. coli, so the risk stays until the bag is gone. That is why recall filters like batch codes and clear retailer lists matter. The Food and Drug Administration’s highest-risk label is not theater; it is a signal to act now, not next week. The long game is prevention.

Retailers should tighten supplier audits. Importers should verify water and sanitation controls at farms and processors. Shoppers should stick with the simple rule that keeps families safe: when officials say Class I, it is a hard no.