Walmart And Trader Joes Recall Frozen Berries Over E.coli Fear

Frozen berries available at Walmart and Trader Joe's across dozens of states face another recall because officials fear contamination with deadly bacteria. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur SA, a company based in San Carlos, Chile, issued the warning on Friday to protect consumers from potential exposure to E.coli. This specific strain causes bloody diarrhea and can lead to sepsis in rare but serious cases. The alert was issued as a precautionary step after new products were identified that might carry the same dangerous pathogen.

The expanded list now includes Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend in 10-ounce packages, Great Value Organic Blueberries also in 10 ounces, and Organic Mixed Berry Blend which comes in 12-ounce containers. All of these Great Value items appeared in Walmart locations throughout thirty states spanning the South, Northeast, and Midwest regions. The Trader Joe's version of the mixed berry blend was distributed to twenty-six stores covering similar geographic areas. Consumers should look for best-by dates extending as far as next June on these specific packages.

Specific identification codes help shoppers spot the affected goods near the standard barcode area. The Triple Berry Blend carries UPCs 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, while the Organic Blueberries are marked with 6 019 01, 6 040 01, or 6 163 01. The Trader Joe's product is identified by the code 6 051 01 on its packaging. Authorities urge customers immediately to stop eating these frozen items and discard them or return them for a full refund without delay.

This latest action updates an earlier warning from July when Frutas y Hortalizas notified Publix of a separate issue involving their own brand. Those alerts covered 10-ounce bags of Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries sold in eight southern states. Later that same month, additional varieties including 10-ounce and 48-ounce bags of Whole Mixed Berries joined the recall list. The Great Value products were shipped directly to select Walmart locations before being placed on store shelves.

The current outbreak has infected seventeen people total within two states, Florida and Georgia. Six patients have required hospitalization while no deaths have been reported so far. Individuals fell ill between May 11 and August 2 according to health officials tracking the situation. Community leaders monitor these events closely because such recalls demonstrate how quickly supply chain issues can impact public safety across vast distances.

Eleven out of thirteen sick individuals told health officials they ate frozen blueberries just days before falling ill. The CDC officially declared that outbreak finished late last month. None of the recent illnesses or hospitalizations connect to the berries currently being recalled. Officials issued a new alert after traceback data proved Walmart and Trader Joe's stock came from the same supplier.

Great Value organic frozen blueberries left stores on Friday due to fears of E.coli contamination. The Triple Berry Blend also faced a recall. Trader Joe's mixed berry blend joined the expanded list. This specific bacteria, O145:H28, is a harsh strain that often triggers bloody diarrhea and worse symptoms.

Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur stated it works with health agencies on this matter. No one knows exactly how the fruit got infected, yet water tainted with animal feces can do the trick. E.coli stops growing below 45.5F but survives freezing and endures temperatures as low as -112F. The bacteria wake up once things warm up again and start multiplying fast enough to spark an infection.

People usually feel sick two to eight days after exposure. Most patients get bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps before recovering within a week. In bad cases, some develop hemolytic uremic syndrome. This is a fatal kidney disease that can strike anyone but hits children under five hardest. Severe instances might require a transplant.

About 90,000 Americans and at least 1,500 Britons catch this bug yearly. Roughly 100 people die from it in the US and UK each year. Yet cases are vastly undercounted. Most folks recover without trouble and never get tested for the bacteria.