Publix widens recall of frozen berries amid multistate E. coli outbreak

Publix has issued a voluntary recall of all lots of its GreenWise Organic frozen whole blueberries and mixed berries after public-health officials linked the products to a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145:H28 that has caused 12 illnesses. The recall spans stores in eight southeastern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and the items are no longer for sale following an internal stop-sale in late June.

The decision builds on a July 3 recall by Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., which initially targeted a single lot of the blueberries. The FDA describes the strain as capable of causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms and, in vulnerable populations, hemolytic uremic syndrome. Consumers are urged to either throw away the products or return them to any Publix location for a full refund. Additional details on the investigation are available from the CDC, and customers can contact Publix Customer Care for assistance.