The FDA has upgraded a Publix frozen blueberry and mixed berry recall to its highest-risk Class I classification over potential E. coli contamination.
A frozen fruit recall affecting Publix shoppers has taken a much more serious turn.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has upgraded the recall of certain GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix to a Class I recall, the agency’s highest level of health risk.
The recall involves concerns over possible contamination with E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can cause severe illness. According to health officials, 12 people have been linked to the outbreak, with four requiring hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.
The affected products include 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries as well as 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages of GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries. The products were distributed to Publix stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The FDA says consumers should not eat the recalled products. Anyone who has them in their freezer should throw them away or return them to Publix for a refund. Consumers are also advised to clean and sanitize surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the recalled fruit to help prevent cross-contamination.
E. coli infections can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms. In serious cases, the infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the kidneys.Bottom line: Check your freezer.
If you have GreenWise frozen blueberries or mixed berries covered by this recall, don’t take the chance—don’t eat them.
RawNews1st will continue following this developing food safety story.
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