Frozen Berries, Bloody Consequences?

Blurred store aisle with RECALL stamp overlay. — FROZEN BLUEBERRIES SHOCKER

Twelve people got sick from E. coli after eating frozen organic blueberries sold at Publix — and the berries came from a supplier in Chile that is now recalling the product across eight states.

Story Snapshot

A Chilean supplier recalled one lot of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores after 12 confirmed E. coli illnesses were reported between May 11 and June 5, 2026.
The recalled bags are 10-ounce GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries with lot code 60401 and a best-by date of February 9, 2028.
Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are all affected.
Customers who bought the recalled bags on or before July 3, 2026, can return them to any Publix for a full refund.

What Triggered the Recall

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., based in San Carlos, Chile, launched the voluntary recall after customers who ate the blueberries reported digestive illnesses. The product tested presumptively positive for Escherichia coli O145:H28, a Shiga toxin-producing strain.

That type of E. coli is especially dangerous. It can cause bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. In the worst cases, it leads to a form of kidney failure that can be deadly.

The recall covers only one production lot. No other GreenWise blueberry products or lot codes are part of this action. Publix posted the recall notice on its corporate website and told customers to check their freezers right away. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed the recall on its public safety alerts page.

How to Know If Your Bag Is Affected

Check the bag for three things: the product name “GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries,” a package size of 10 ounces, and lot code 60401 stamped on the bag.

The best-by date should read February 9, 2028. If your bag matches all three, do not eat the blueberries. Throw them away or bring them back to the store where you bought them for a full refund. No receipt is required.

Customers with questions can call 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. You can also email [email protected]. The supplier says it is working with regulators and retail partners and will share more details as its investigation continues.

The E. coli Strain That Makes This Serious

Not all E. coli strains are created equal. O145:H28 belongs to a group called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the same family as the notorious O157:H7 strain. These bacteria produce a toxin that attacks the lining of the gut and, in some cases, the kidneys.

Children under five and adults over 65 face the highest risk of severe complications. If you ate the recalled blueberries and now have bloody diarrhea or signs of kidney trouble, see a doctor immediately.

🚨 Recall Alert
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur recalls GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries (10 oz) for E. coli O145 risk 🫐⚠️

📍 Sold at Publix in AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA
🗓️ Linked to 12 illnesses (May 11–Jun 5)

❗ E. coli can cause severe stomach issues – do not… pic.twitter.com/uohvZz5Pzo

— USA Recalls (@USA_Recalls) July 7, 2026

Freezing does not kill this pathogen. Research shows that bacteria like E. coli can survive frozen storage and remain dangerous when the product thaws.

There is typically no cooking step when people eat frozen blueberries in smoothies or yogurt, so the bacteria enter the body with nothing to stop them. That is exactly why this recall demands immediate action, not a wait-and-see approach.

A Note on Where the Illness Count Comes From

The 12 confirmed cases of illness were reported by the supplier itself, not by a federal health agency. As of the time of the recall announcement, neither the FDA nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had posted a public outbreak notice tied to this product, according to food safety attorney Bill Marler. That is not unusual.

Federal agencies often wait for genetic confirmation before going public. The supplier moved first, which is the right call. Waiting for bureaucratic sign-off while people keep eating contaminated food is not a reasonable option.

Frozen Berries and Food Safety: A Bigger Picture

This recall fits a pattern that food safety experts have tracked for decades. The FDA noted four foodborne illness outbreaks linked to frozen berries in the United States between 1997 and 2016, involving hepatitis A and norovirus.

Those outbreaks sickened more than 540 people and sent 53 to the hospital. E. coli in frozen berries is rarer but has occurred before.

The common thread across all these cases is that frozen does not mean safe, and imported berries carry real risks that require serious oversight at every step of the supply chain.