The blueberry recall that started in July now reaches Walmart freezers across 16 states—and the clock is ticking for anyone with mixed berry bags at home.
Story Snapshot
- Federal regulators tied an E. coli O145:H28 outbreak to frozen organic blueberries from a Chilean supplier.
- The recall that began with GreenWise blueberries expanded to mixed berry blends, including Walmart store brands in 16 states.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) escalated the risk to Class I, its most serious level.
- Health officials urge consumers to check their freezers and throw out or return recalled bags.
What expanded and why it matters right now
The Food and Drug Administration said frozen organic blueberries linked to E. coli O145:H28 triggered a widening recall that now covers select frozen mixed berry blends sold at Walmart in 16 states.
The expansion follows an outbreak investigation that tied illnesses to berries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a supplier in Chile. The agency upgraded the recall to Class I, which signals a reasonable chance of serious harm if the product is eaten. This is the highest alert the FDA uses.
The first step came on July 3, when the supplier recalled GreenWise Organic 10-ounce frozen blueberries over possible E. coli O145 contamination. Publix later pulled all lots of GreenWise blueberries and mixed berries as a safeguard.
As case counts rose and traceback tightened, regulators pushed the warning level higher and widened the net to include additional blends, including those sold under Walmart’s private labels in multiple states. Frozen fruit often stays in home freezers for months, which keeps exposure risks alive.
What we know about the outbreak and risks
Federal and state partners reported a multistate outbreak of E. coli O145:H28 infections tied to the frozen blueberries, with illnesses starting in May and continuing into the summer.
Reported case counts increased over time, and several patients needed hospital care, according to agency updates and national reporting.
Health officials stress that freezing does not kill most harmful bacteria. If contamination occurs before freezing, the pathogen can survive and remain dangerous when people blend or thaw the fruit.
Doctors warn that E. coli O145 can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Older adults and people with weak immune systems face greater risks of complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises consumers to avoid eating, selling, or serving any recalled blueberries or berry mixes and to sanitize surfaces and containers that touched the product. That advice is direct, easy to follow, and grounded in what has worked in past outbreaks.
What to do if you have these berries
Consumers should check their freezers for recalled GreenWise blueberries and GreenWise mixed berries, as well as select mixed berry blends sold at Walmart in 16 states, and follow return or disposal directions on the recall notice.
If you do not have the bag or are unsure, treat it like it may be affected. When in doubt, throw it out. Wash hands, bowls, and blender parts with hot, soapy water. Do not taste-test to see if it is “fine.” Harmful bacteria do not change smell, color, or texture.
FDA expands the Walmart frozen berry recall to 16 states — 17 sickened across Florida and Georgia, E. coli linked to Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend. The 5 facts shoppers need to know: https://t.co/pZlIKwBSlc
— Nova Cechinel (@NovaCechinel) September 5, 2026
Families who ate recalled berries and feel sick should call a doctor and mention the recall. Keep receipts and the packaging if available, but do not keep the food. Retailers will honor returns even without a bag in many cases.
Common sense applies here: respect the warning, cut your risk, and move on. Safety comes first. This is a fast, practical fix for a hazard that hides in plain sight in your freezer.
How this fits the bigger food-safety pattern
Regulators often act before every lab test is done when evidence shows a likely source of illness. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use patterns from patient interviews, store records, and supplier tracebacks to move fast and cut exposure.
That approach protects the public while investigators finish sampling and count cases. It also explains why the warning level rose and the recall widened as the picture became clearer. Frozen fruit recalls are hard, so speed matters.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, fda.gov, usatoday.com, washingtonpost.com, wral.com, nytimes.com, miamiherald.com
