Berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s in dozens of states recalled over fears of contamination with deadly bacteria
A frozen berry recall that sickened more than a dozen people has been expanded again over fears that other products could be contaminated with potentially deadly bacteria.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur SA, San Carlos, Chile, announced Friday that three new products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s were being added to its alert as a ‘precautionary measure’ over fears they could also be contaminated with E.coli, a bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea and, in rare cases, sepsis.
The products added to the recall are Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 ounces, Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10 ounces, and Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12 ounces.
All the Great Value products were sold in Walmart stores in 30 states across the South, Northeast and Midwest, while the Organic Mixed Berry Blend was on shelves at Trader Joe’s in 26 states across the same regions. The berries have best-by dates up to June next year.
The Great Value Organic Triple Blend has the UPC codes, found near the barcode, of 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, the Great Value Organic Blueberries have the UPC codes, 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01, while the Trader Joe’s-sold berries have the UPC code, 6 051 01.
Customers have been urged not to consume the frozen berries and to throw them out immediately or return them to stores for a full refund.
The new recall updates an alert from July, when Frutas y Hortalizas warned its Publix-sold 10-ounce bags of Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries were potentially contaminated with E.coli. These were sold in stores in eight southern states.
Later that month, GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries, including 10- and 48-ounce bags, were added to the recall.
The recalled Great Value products were shipped to select Walmart stores in 30 states
Berries sold at Trader Joe’s in 26 states have also been recalled
To date, the outbreak has sickened a total of 17 people in two states – Florida and Georgia – six of whom have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Patients fell ill between May 11 and August 2. Of the 13 interviewed by health officials, 11 said they had eaten frozen blueberries in the week before they got sick.
Late last month, the CDC declared the outbreak over.
None of the illnesses or hospitalizations reported have been linked to the berries in the latest recall.
But health officials said the alert was issued after ‘traceback information’ showed the berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s came from the same source.
October’s recalled Great Value products were shipped to select Walmart stores in 30 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia, along with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The recalled Trader Joe’s berries were stocked on the shelves of stores in 26 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia.
In July’s initial recall, the berries were recalled after being sold in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Great Value organic frozen blueberries were recalled on Friday over fears of potential E.coli contamination
Frozen Triple Berry Blend was also recalled
Trader Joe’s organic frozen mixed berry blend was included in the recall expansion
The fear of contamination is over E.coli O145:H28, a more severe strain of the bacteria that is more likely to cause bloody diarrhea and other more severe symptoms.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur said in the notice that it is working with health agencies regarding the recall.
It was not clear how the fruits became contaminated, but this can happen if they are treated with water that contains animal feces.
E.coli bacteria stop growing at temperatures below 45.5F (7.5C), but can survive being frozen and are able to withstand temperatures below -112F (-80C).
Once back in a warm environment, the bacteria are reactivated and start to grow – potentially causing an infection.
E.coli is a Shiga toxin-producing bacteria that typically sickens people between two and eight days after exposure.
Most patients develop bloody diarrhea and vomiting, as well as stomach cramps, but recover within a week. In more severe cases, some develop a fatal kidney disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a lifelong kidney complication.
Children under five years old and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk from the infection.
HUS is a type of kidney failure that can occur in anyone but is most common in children under five, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms include easy bruising, decreased urine and a pale appearance. A kidney transplant may be necessary in severe or life-threatening instances.
About 90,000 Americans and at least 1,500 Britons are sickened with E.coli every year, while around 100 people die from the infection in the US and UK annually.
However, cases are vastly undercounted because most people recover without complications and do not get tested for the bacteria.
