Publix expanded its frozen berry recall on July 29, widening the FDA Publix berry recall to cover all sizes of GreenWise Blueberries and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries after an E. coli outbreak sickened 12 people. Four of those patients have been hospitalized.
The new action follows an earlier recall in early July, when 10-ounce bags of GreenWise Blueberries were pulled after being tied to the outbreak. On July 6, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. recalled GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries sold in 10-ounce bags, and Publix later said the recall now also covers all GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries. The berries were distributed to stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
That wider net matters because frozen fruit does not stop being a risk once it reaches a freezer. Freezing at 0°F pauses the growth of E. coli, but it does not kill the bacteria. Publix had already pulled the frozen GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries from its freezer aisles at the end of June, but products bought before then could still be sitting in shoppers’ home freezers when the recall broadened.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked the outbreak to blueberries, making this more than a store-level precaution. It is a warning that a product can stay dangerous long after it disappears from the shelf, especially when it has already traveled through shoppers’ kitchens. Customers were told not to eat the recalled GreenWise blueberries or mixed berries and to throw the fruit out or bring the bag back to Publix for a refund.
For shoppers who may still have the fruit tucked away, the next step is simple: check the bag and get rid of it if it matches the recall. Publix Customer Care can be reached at 800-242-1227 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
