Shoppers at Publix in eight Southeastern states and at Walmart in 26 states and Puerto Rico were affected by 2026 recalls of frozen organic berries tied to an E. coli O145 outbreak that sickened 17 people. Recalled bags should be thrown away or returned to the store for a full refund; CDC declared the outbreak over on September 21, 2026.
What Was Recalled?
Three recalls came out of one outbreak, all involving frozen organic berries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile:• July 3, 2026: the supplier recalled GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries, 10 ounces, lot 60401, best by February 9, 2028, sold at Publix.
• July 29, 2026: Publix recalled all lots of its frozen GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries, in 10-ounce and 48-ounce bags, after the FDA raised concerns about at least one other lot of blueberries used in GreenWise products.
• September 2, 2026: the supplier added one lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold at Walmart, 10 ounces, lot code 6040 01-6, best if used by February 9, 2028. A correction widened its distribution to 26 states and Puerto Rico. No illnesses have been tied to this product; the company called it a precaution based on traceback from the first recall.
The Publix products were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The FDA and CDC counted 17 people sick in Florida and Georgia, with illnesses starting between May 11 and August 2, 2026; six were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. CDC declared the outbreak over on September 21, 2026, and the FDA placed the supplier's frozen blueberries on an import alert, which allows shipments to be detained without physical examination when offered for entry into the U.S.
Which Bags to Look For
At Publix, every lot of these frozen GreenWise products is recalled:• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 10 oz, UPC 41415-06453
• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 48 oz, UPC 41415-12053
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10 oz, UPC 41415-06753
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 48 oz, UPC 41415-12153
At Walmart, only one lot is recalled: Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 oz, UPC 7874211226, lot code 6040 01-6 on the front of the package, best if used by February 9, 2028. It went to select Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. Our Walmart Great Value berry recall report covers that refund in detail.
The recalled products should be off store shelves, but with best-by dates running into 2028 they can still be in home freezers.
What Should You Do?
Do not eat recalled berries, even in smoothies or baked goods. Throw the bag away or return it to Publix or Walmart, wherever you bought it, for a full refund. The recall notices do not describe an online claim form or a mail-in refund, and they do not mention a receipt; bringing the bag with its label visible lets the store match it to the recall. Afterward, clean and sanitize anything the berries touched, including freezer drawers, blenders, containers and countertops.If anyone in your household ate the berries, watch for severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting, typically starting 3 to 4 days after exposure. Contact a health care provider if symptoms appear, and seek urgent care for warning signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome, such as decreased urination, unusual fatigue or pale color, especially in children and older adults.
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Is There a Lawsuit?
Yes. A wrongful death lawsuit filed in September 2026 in Pinellas County Circuit Court in Florida names Publix and Quirch Foods. It alleges that a Largo woman bought GreenWise frozen blueberries at a Publix store in May, became sick after eating them and died June 20, and that her son was hospitalized after eating the same product. The allegations have not been proven in court, and CDC's outbreak count lists no deaths.It is an individual injury case, not a class action, and there is no settlement or claim process for shoppers who bought the berries. The remedy for them is the store refund. We will update this page if a class action or settlement follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Publix blueberries are recalled?
All lots of Publix's frozen GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries (10-ounce, UPC 41415-06453; 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12053) and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries (10-ounce, UPC 41415-06753; 48-ounce, UPC 41415-12153), sold at Publix in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The supplier's first recall covered GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries, 10 ounces, lot 60401, best by February 9, 2028.
Which Walmart berries are recalled?
One lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend in 10-ounce bags, UPC 7874211226, lot code 6040 01-6, best if used by February 9, 2028, sold at Walmart stores in 26 states and Puerto Rico. The supplier added it to the recall on September 2, 2026. No illnesses have been tied to that product.
How do I get a refund for recalled frozen berries?
Return the bag to the store where you bought it, Publix or Walmart, for a full refund, or throw it away. The recall notices do not describe an online claim form or mail-in refund. Do not eat the berries, and clean any surfaces or containers they touched.
What if I already ate the recalled berries?
Watch for symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli: severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting, usually starting 3 to 4 days after exposure. Contact a health care provider if symptoms develop and mention the recalled berries. Seek care urgently for signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome, such as decreased urination, extreme fatigue or loss of color.
Is there a lawsuit over the blueberry E. coli outbreak?
Yes. A wrongful death lawsuit filed in September 2026 in Pinellas County, Florida, names Publix and Quirch Foods and alleges that a Largo woman died after eating GreenWise frozen blueberries bought at Publix and that her son was hospitalized. The allegations have not been proven in court, and CDC's outbreak count lists no deaths. It is an individual injury case, not a class action.
Sources
• FDA — Outbreak investigation of E. coli O145:H28, frozen blueberries (updated September 21, 2026)• CDC — E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries
• FDA — Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur recall of GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries (July 3, 2026)
• FDA — Publix recalls all lots of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and whole mixed berries
• FDA — Recall expanded to Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (September 2, 2026, with correction)
• Tampa Bay Times — Largo woman died after eating blueberries from Publix, lawsuit says (September 23, 2026)
