Alert regarding frozen blueberries contaminated with E. coli in Florida and several states

The supermarket chain Publix recalled its frozen blueberries under the brand GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in Florida and seven other southeastern states, following the confirmation of 12 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to a dangerous strain of E. coli.

The recall was voluntarily initiated by the Chilean company Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., the product supplier, and exclusively covers lot No. 60401 of the 10-ounce bags with an expiration date of February 9, 2028.

However, the notice published on the Publix website expanded the warning: "Publix recommends that its customers return or discard any GreenWise frozen blueberry products purchased on Friday, July 3, 2026, or earlier."

The recall affects stores located in eight states: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee.

The supplier company explained in its official notice that the decision was made "after receiving reports from consumers who experienced digestive illnesses and had consumed GreenWise frozen blueberries as part of their diet."

The notice specifies that "12 cases of consumers with stomach illnesses have been confirmed between May 11, 2026, and June 5, 2026, linked to infections caused by E. coli O145:H28."

The identified strain, E. coli O145:H28, belongs to the group of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria, recognized as the most dangerous within this type of pathogens.

In addition to causing bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramps in most affected individuals, these strains are the ones most likely to trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure that can be fatal.

Those who have the product in their freezer should check it immediately and return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.

Anyone with questions about the recall can write to Info.foodsafety@comfrut.com or call 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

This is not the first product recall associated with Publix in recent months.

In May 2026, the chain was involved in the recall of fries from the Zapp's and Dirty brands due to potential salmonella contamination, and in October 2025, it was part of the mass recall of over 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese due to the risk of metal fragments distributed across 31 states and Puerto Rico.

Authorities are advising consumers to urgently check their freezers, as the product has an expiration date of 2028 and may have been stored for months without the buyer being notified.