Berries from Publix that have sickened a dozen people might be sitting in freezers in Palm Beach County.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given its highest risk-level recall classification to frozen berries sold at Publix that were recalled over possible E. coli contamination. Publix has more than 30 stores across Palm Beach County.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a food processing company in Chile, recalled one lot of frozen GreenWise organic blueberries on July 3 with a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028. Publix later said on July 29 that it recalled all lots of GreenWise organic frozen whole blueberries and whole mixed berries.
The affected products
are no longer for sale at Publix.
The FDA gave the frozen berries a Class I classification — its most serious warning level — on Tuesday, Aug. 18. That means there is “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to the FDA.
The berries are tied to a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections. One dozen people reported illnesses in connection with the berries, according to the FDA. Eleven of them are from Florida and one is from Georgia. Four people have been hospitalized.
Which Publix frozen berries are recalled?
The berry recall includes these products, according to the FDA:
- 10-ounce GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries; UPC 41415-06453
- 48-ounce GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries; UPC 41415-12053
- 10-ounce GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries; UPC 41415-06753
- 48-ounce GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries; UPC 41415-12153
What led to the possible contamination?
The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still investigating the source of the possible contamination. The recalled berries were sold at Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The FDA conducted a remote inspection of Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. in San Carlos, Chile, and reviewed its records to “better understand their procedures and hazard controls, or abilities to prevent food from becoming contaminated,” the agency said.
The FDA said it is concerned about other products from the company that have not yet entered the U.S. market.
“Frozen blueberries from this firm that are offered for entry into the United States may be detained without physical examination,” reads an FDA update. “The firm may submit documentation demonstrating that they have resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of a violation for frozen blueberries.”
What is E. coli?
E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the body.
The strain of the bacteria possibly in the blueberries is E. coli O145, which is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that can cause an illness with stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.
Most people recover from the illness within a week, but children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at a greater risk for severe illness.
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Publix mixed berry, blueberry recall gets FDA's highest risk level
