Shoppers who keep frozen berries on hand for smoothies now have another bag to check. A Chilean supplier has expanded its E. coli recall to include one lot of Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend sold in 26 states and Washington, D.C., along with additional lots of Walmart's Great Value frozen organic berries, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA on Oct. 2.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., based in San Carlos, Chile, said the products may be contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can cause severe illness. The notice does not mention any illnesses linked to the newly recalled lots.
The concern for families is practical. Frozen berries are often eaten without cooking, whether blended into smoothies, stirred into yogurt, or handed to young children as snacks, so any contamination is not cooked away before eating.
Lot Codes Shoppers Should Look For
The Trader Joe's product is the 12-ounce Organic Mixed Berry Blend, UPC 00977654, lot code 6 051 01, with a Best Before date of Feb. 20, 2028. It was sold in 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, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
The added Walmart items are 10-ounce bags of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, UPC 7874211226, lots 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, with Best If Used By dates of Jan. 31 and Feb. 10, 2028. Also included are 10-ounce Great Value Organic Blueberries, UPC 7874211213, lots 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01, with Best If Used By dates of Jan. 19, Feb. 9 and June 12, 2028.
The Great Value products were sold in 30 states and Puerto Rico, including New York, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
"The product should be discarded or returned to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a full refund," the company said. Consumers with questions can email [email protected] on weekdays.
A Precautionary Step After an Outbreak Ended
The company described the expansion as "a precautionary measure following traceback information linked to frozen blueberries which were the subject of the first recall on July 3, 2026." The notice does not say the new lots tested positive.
The outbreak behind the recalls has already ended. According to the FDA's outbreak investigation, 17 people in Florida and Georgia became ill, with illnesses starting between May 11 and Aug. 2, and six were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The CDC declared the outbreak over on Sept. 21. Publix testing of GreenWise frozen blueberries found the outbreak strain in one sample, while the FDA's own samples tested negative.
MedicalDaily previously reported on the recall's expansion to Walmart's Great Value Triple Berry Blend in September. The new notice adds Trader Joe's for the first time, includes Great Value Blueberries, and widens Walmart's distribution to 30 states and Puerto Rico, as Food Safety News also reported.
Frozen fruit can stay in a freezer for months, so households should check bags they already have, not just new purchases.
Children and Older Adults Face the Greatest Risk
"E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that can cause illness characterized by severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and vomiting," the company's notice said. "While most healthy individuals recover within a week, some infections may result in a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems."
The CDC lists children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems as most likely to get seriously ill. HUS damages the kidneys, and the CDC says it "can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems, and even death."
Parents should watch for warning signs of HUS listed by the CDC's E. coli symptoms page, including "little or no peeing, losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots, blood in pee, feeling very tired or being irritable (cranky), and decreased awareness (alertness)." The agency calls HUS a medical emergency.
Contact a clinician for diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days, bloody stool or urine, a fever higher than 102 degrees, or signs of dehydration, and mention any recalled berries eaten in recent days.
Steps for Households Now
Check the freezer for the listed brands, sizes, UPCs, and lot codes. The codes are printed on the front of Great Value packages and on the back of the Trader Joe's bag. If the bag matches, do not eat it, including in smoothies or baked goods. Return it to the store or throw it away in a sealed bag.
Clean freezer shelves, blender jars, and countertops that touched the berries with hot, soapy water. Wash hands after handling the bag.
The recall covers only the listed products and lot codes. Anyone who ate a recalled product and feels well does not need testing but should watch for symptoms in the following days. MedicalDaily will update this report if more products or illnesses are added.
Key Questions Answered
Which Trader Joe's product is recalled?
The 12-ounce Organic Mixed Berry Blend, UPC 00977654, lot 6 051 01, Best Before Feb. 20, 2028.
Which Walmart products were added?
Additional lots of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend and Great Value Organic Blueberries, both 10 ounces.
Have new illnesses been reported?
The Oct. 2 notice does not mention any illnesses tied to the newly recalled lots, and the related outbreak was declared over on Sept. 21.
What symptoms should people watch for?
Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody and vomiting. Reduced urination, pale skin or unusual bruising may signal HUS.
Who faces the highest risk?
Children under 5, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems.
What should I do with a recalled bag?
Do not eat it. Return it for a full refund or throw it away, then clean surfaces it touched.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
