By admin 
Earlier this year, in July, the FDA and CDC announced an investigation into an E. coli outbreak. Publix recalled frozen blueberries and mixed berry products from South Carolina and seven other states.
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The investigation and outbreak closed in Sept., but out of an abundance of caution, Trader Joe’s and Walmart have also recalled frozen berries that were potentially contaminated with the same E. coli strain linked to the July outbreak, the FDA said on Friday.
Frozen berries from both stores were distributed to SC. No illnesses have been reported from the products in this expanded recall.
Here are the frozen berry products that were recalled and why SC consumers should be cautious when buying frozen berries:
Recalled products
This extended recall is a precautionary measure based on traceback information linked to frozen blueberries, which were the subject of the first recall. These are the affected products (Great Value is sold at Walmart):
- Product: Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 OZ (Including Strawberries, Blackberries and Blueberries), with UPC: 7874211226. Lot Code: 6 031 01, 6 041 01 (in front of the package). Best If Used By Date: January 31, 2028 and February 10, 2028
- Product: Great Value Organic Blueberries 10 OZ, with UPC: 7874211213. Lot Code: 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01 (on the front of the package). Best If Used By Date: January 19, 2028; February 9, 2028; and June 12, 2028
- Product: Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend 12 OZ with UPC: 00977654. Lot Code: 6 051 01 (on the back of the package). Best Before Date: February 20, 2028
The frozen berries are a product of Chile, from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A.
Check your freezer to see if you have purchased any of these items. If you have, discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.
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What is E. coli and its symptoms?
Escherichia coli is a bacterium found in food and in the intestines of people and animals, and while most strains of it are harmless, some can make you very ill.
The E. coli linked to this outbreak is E. coli O145:H28, which can cause illness with severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and vomiting, according to the FDA.
While most healthy individuals recover within a week, some infections may lead to a serious complication, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), particularly in young children, older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems.
As long as you haven’t purchased any of the recalled frozen berry products recently, there is little to worry about. Make sure to check the packaging of your frozen berries if you’re unsure about their safety.
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