Frozen Blueberries Sold at Publix Linked to an E. coli Outbreak
The berries, shipped to stores in eight states, have been recalled
Update: On July 29, Publix announced that it had expanded the recall of one lot of organic GreenWise frozen blueberries to include all lots of GreenWise frozen blueberries and GreenWise frozen mixed berries due to possible E. coli contamination. The berries were shipped to Publix stores in the same eight states where the originally recalled blueberries were shipped: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The newly recalled products are listed below. If you have these in your freezer, discard them or return them to the Publix store where you bought them for a refund.
• 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
Original Article
GreenWise organic frozen blueberries, produced by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. in San Carlos, Chile, have been linked to an outbreak of illnesses caused by the bacteria E. coli O145:H28, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The blueberries were sold in 10-ounce packages at Publix stores in eight states and have been recalled.
The Risks of E. Coli
E. coli O145:H28 is a variant of the bacteria that produces Shiga toxin. This toxin can harm the intestines, often causing painful, bloody diarrhea and, in 5 to 10 percent of cases, potentially fatal kidney damage, says James E. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety at Consumer Reports.
The intestinal symptoms can start three to five days after exposure and begin to improve after about a week. But it’s at this stage that signs of kidney damage may occur. Symptoms of kidney damage include decreased urination, extreme fatigue, and paleness in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. Seek immediate medical care if you experience these symptoms. Staying hydrated can lessen the chance of kidney damage.
