Frozen Blueberries Linked to E. coli Outbreak; Publix Product Recalled
FDA and CDC linked an E. coli O145 outbreak to frozen GreenWise organic blueberries at Publix — 12 infected, 4 hospitalized — prompting a recall.
TL;DR — The FDA and CDC linked a multistate E. coli O145 outbreak to frozen GreenWise organic blueberries sold at Publix; 12 people were infected across Florida and Georgia, four were hospitalized, and the product was recalled.
A bag of frozen fruit is behind a new federal food-safety investigation. On July 6, 2026, the FDA and CDC linked an E. coli outbreak to frozen organic blueberries.
What happened
The FDA and CDC linked a multistate E. coli O145:H28 outbreak to GreenWise organic frozen blueberries sold at Publix. Twelve people were infected across two states (11 in Florida, one in Georgia); four were hospitalized and there were no deaths. Illness onsets ran May 11 to June 5, 2026. Publix pulled the product around July 3, the supplier initiated a recall on July 5, and the public advisory followed on July 6.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Cases | 12 (11 FL, 1 GA) |
| Hospitalized | 4 — no deaths |
| Strain | E. coli O145:H28 |
| Product | GreenWise organic IQF blueberries, 10 oz, lot 60401, best-by Feb 9, 2028 |
The blueberries were distributed by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile, and shipped to Publix stores in eight states (AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA). Of nine cases interviewed, 78% reported eating frozen blueberries and five specifically named GreenWise.
The details
Federal notices are attributed to the FDA, CDC and Publix; no individual spokesperson is quoted in the public advisories.
Why it matters
- Small outbreak, serious strain. A roughly 33% hospitalization rate reflects O145’s virulence, including the risk of kidney complications.
- Imported frozen berries recur. Frozen berry outbreaks keep surfacing despite modest case counts.
- Check your freezer. Consumers should not eat the recalled lot and should discard or return it.
FAQ
Which blueberries were recalled?
GreenWise organic individually quick-frozen (IQF) blueberries in 10-ounce bags, lot code 60401, best-by February 9, 2028, sold at Publix. FDA and CDC linked them to an E. coli O145:H28 outbreak announced July 6, 2026.
How many people got sick?
Twelve people across two states (11 in Florida, one in Georgia) were infected; four were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Illness onsets ranged from May 11 to June 5, 2026.
Sources
- FDA — outbreak investigation: E. coli, frozen blueberries (July 2026)
- WUSF — E. coli outbreak linked to frozen organic blueberries sold at Publix
Image: Frozen blueberries by Arches National Park (NPS) — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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