Blueberry Recall Update: FDA Issues Highest Risk Warning
An E. coli outbreak linked to recalled frozen blueberries has sickened 12 people, including four who were hospitalized.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I risk warning, the highest level of alert, regarding a series of blueberry and mixed berry products that were recently recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. This classification indicates that there is a reasonable probability the use or exposure to the contaminated product could cause serious health issues or even death, according to the FDA.
The recalled products, manufactured by GreenWise, were produced in four lots and distributed by Publix, a grocery chain. These products, which included mixed berry assortments, were sold in Publix stores across several Southern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The recall was initiated on July 29 due to potential contamination with E. coli O145, a strain known to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
As of July 30, the FDA had documented 12 reported illnesses linked to the contaminated berries, with four of these cases resulting in hospitalization. Notably, no fatalities had been reported. The onset of symptoms among the patients affected by the contaminated berries occurred between May 11 and June 5, according to the FDA.
The FDA's investigation into this outbreak remains ongoing, as authorities work to determine the full extent of the contamination and potential risks associated with consuming the affected berry products.
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