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Health officials are urging shoppers to check their freezers after a recall of frozen organic blueberries expanded again, weeks after the outbreak investigation linked to the fruit was formally closed. The outbreak is over, officials say, but recalled bags with best-by dates running into 2028 may still be sitting in home freezers.
The investigation concerned an E. coli O145 outbreak that sickened 17 people in Florida and Georgia, six of whom were hospitalised. No deaths were reported. Most of those interviewed recalled eating frozen blueberries, and testing by a retailer found the outbreak strain in one sample, even though official samples tested negative.
The latest expansion, posted at the start of October, added six lots across three products: Great Value organic blueberries and a triple berry blend sold at Walmart in 30 states, and an organic mixed berry blend sold at Trader Joe’s in 26 states. All come from a Chilean grower that has been placed on an import alert.
The episode highlights an awkward gap in food safety. Frozen berries keep for years, so a product can remain a risk long after investigators close a file and headlines move on. A bag bought in August can outlast the investigation by a wide margin, which is why the recall keeps growing after the outbreak ended.
Consumers are advised to compare lot codes on any frozen organic blueberries at home against the recall lists and to throw out or return matching products rather than eat them. Anyone who develops severe stomach cramps or bloody diarrhoea after eating frozen berries should seek medical care and mention the possible exposure.
