FDA Upgrades Publix Frozen Blueberry Recall to Highest Health Risk Level

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded the recall of frozen GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries from Publix to Class I. 
• A Class I recall indicates the highest level of health risk. 
• The initial recall of frozen berry products sold at Publix supermarkets was linked to potential E. coli contamination. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded a recall for frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix supermarkets across the United States to a Class I recall on August 18.

A Class I recall indicates the highest health risk. It means that the use of the affected product(s) has a reasonable probability of causing adverse health consequences or even death. 

The initial recall of the GreenWise frozen blueberry and mixed berry products was issued by Publix on July 29.

This followed a July 3 recall of GreenWise Organic Blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., San Carlos, Chile. 

Out of caution, Publix recalled all lots of four products, which included: 

• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 10-ounce, UPC 41415-06453
• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12053
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10-ounce, UPC 41415-06753
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12153

Customers have been encouraged not to consume these products and to either discard them or return them to Publix for a full refund. Publix could not immediately be reached for comment.

Which states are affected by the frozen berry recall?

This Class I recall affects all Publix stores across the United States. The supermarket chain currently operates 1,413 stores in 8 states: 

• Alabama
• Florida 
• Georgia 
• Kentucky
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the investigation into the E. coli contamination is still open. 

As of July 30, the CDC reported 12 cases of E. coli related to the recalled frozen berries and 4 hospitalizations. 

Signs of E. coli and how to protect yourself

Symptoms of E. coli typically begin within 3–4 days after ingesting the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment in 5–7 days. 

However, some people may develop serious kidney issues that require hospitalization. 

Robert Glatter, MD, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine, said that young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious illness.

Signs of E. coli infection include: 

• abdominal cramping
• sudden, severe watery diarrhea that may change to bloody stools
• gas 
• nausea or loss of appetite
• fever
• fatigue
• vomiting, in rare cases

If you experience any of the following severe symptoms, you should contact a healthcare professional right away: 

• diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F (38.8º C)
• diarrhea for more than 3 days that does not improve
• bloody diarrhea
• vomiting to the point you cannot keep liquids down
• signs of dehydration, such as:
  • decreased urine output
  • dry mouth and throat
  • feeling dizzy when standing up

In this case, the best way you can prevent E. coli is not to consume any of the recalled products.

The CDC recommends washing any items or surfaces that may have touched the contaminated products with hot soapy water. 

“Do not try to determine whether a package is safe by tasting it. If frozen berries have been removed from their original packaging and you cannot determine whether they were recalled, FDA advises throwing them away,” Glatter told Healthline.

“For consumers, the central message from this recall is straightforward: check the freezer, do not eat the recalled GreenWise berries, and seek immediate medical advice by going to the closest emergency department if fever, abdominal pain, or bloody stool develop after having eaten them,” he said.