Frozen Berry Recall Expands Again: Walmart, Trader Joe's Products Added Over E. coli Risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published an expanded recall notice on October 2, as Chilean fruit supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. added more frozen berry products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's over potential contamination with E. coli O145:H28.
The newly listed products are 10-ounce Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (UPC 7874211226; lots 6 031 01 and 6 041 01), 10-ounce Great Value Organic Blueberries (UPC 7874211213; lots 6 019 01, 6 040 01, and 6 163 01), and 12-ounce Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend (UPC 00977654; lot 6 051 01). This is a lot-specific recall, not a blanket pull of every frozen berry under either brand — matching the UPC, lot code, and date on the package is the fastest check.
The recall began on July 3, when GreenWise organic IQF blueberries sold at Publix were pulled. It widened on July 29 to GreenWise mixed berries, reached a Walmart product for the first time on September 2, and expanded a fourth time on October 2. Each step followed traceback information pointing to additional affected lots.
The strain at issue, E. coli O145:H28, is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The FDA describes it as capable of causing severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting — an illness pattern regulators treat as high risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's last outbreak update on September 21, 17 people had been infected with the outbreak strain, six of them hospitalized, with no deaths reported. The CDC declared the outbreak "over" in that notice, but the recall continues as a precautionary measure: the FDA said the October 2 action was taken following traceback information linked to the blueberries that triggered the original July 3 recall.
The newly added Great Value products went to select Walmart stores in 30 states plus Puerto Rico; the Trader Joe's product went to stores in 26 states plus Washington, D.C. Across all rounds, the recall now spans 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The detail that should worry consumers most is shelf life. The affected lots carry best-if-used-by dates stretching from January into June 2028 — meaning recalled bags could sit unnoticed in home freezers for well over a year, long after the initial headlines faded.
The FDA advises anyone holding a matching product and lot not to eat it. Bags can be discarded or returned to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a full refund. People who develop symptoms should seek medical care promptly. The supplier can be reached at 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.