FDA Upgrades Publix Frozen Blueberry Recall to Class I After E. Coli Outbreak Sickens 12 People in Two States and Spans Eight Southern States

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has moved a recall of frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores to its highest alert level after an E. coli outbreak tied to the products sickened 12 people in two states, according to federal health officials.

The agency said Tuesday that the recall is now a Class I recall, its most serious category. The FDA defines that level as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to the product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

What The FDA Announced

The FDA said the recalled products were GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages, as well as GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages. All of the listed items carry expiration dates before Feb. 9, 2028.

According to the agency, the products were shipped to Publix locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The recall affects store shelves across that multistate region, even though the outbreak itself has been linked to illnesses in only two states so far.

How The Recall Grew

The FDA action follows the earlier recall that was issued after contamination with E. coli was identified. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak has infected 12 people in two states, which led federal officials to elevate the warning as they tracked the scope of the problem.

Class I is the agency’s strongest recall designation and is reserved for products that could pose the greatest risk. In this case, the concern is not limited to one package size or one berry mix: the FDA lists four GreenWise items in all, each tied to the same recall and sold through Publix stores.

What Consumers Should Do

The FDA says consumers should not eat the recalled frozen blueberries or berry mixes. Instead, people should throw them away or return them to their nearest Publix location for a full refund, according to the agency.

Publix Customer Care is available at (800) 242-1227 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, for questions about the recall. Shoppers who want to check whether a package is included should look for the GreenWise product names, package sizes and UPC codes listed by the FDA.

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