Frozen berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's across Illinois face an expanded recall over E. coli contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday, Oct. 2.
Downers Grove-area shoppers who buy frozen fruit at either chain should check their freezers. The recalled products carry "Best By" dates stretching into 2028, meaning potentially contaminated bags could still be in home freezers for months.
Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded the recall to cover additional lots of three products: Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz.), Great Value frozen Organic Blueberries (10 oz.) and Trader Joe's frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend (12 oz.).
The products may be contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
The Great Value products were shipped to Walmart stores in 30 states, including Illinois. The Trader Joe's product reached stores in 26 states, also including Illinois. Patch reported the state has more than 150 Walmart locations and more than 20 Trader Joe's stores.
What to check
Shoppers should look for these lot codes, printed on the front of Great Value packages and the back of the Trader Joe's package:
- Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 oz. (UPC 7874211226): Lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01. Best If Used By Jan. 31, 2028, and Feb. 10, 2028.
- Great Value Organic Blueberries 10 oz. (UPC 7874211213): Lot codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01. Best If Used By Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; and June 12, 2028.
- Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend 12 oz. (UPC 00977654): Lot code 6 051 01. Best Before Feb. 20, 2028.
Anyone with a recalled product should throw it away or return it to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a full refund.
Why the recall grew
The Oct. 2 expansion is the third round. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. first recalled frozen organic blueberries on July 3 and expanded the recall on Sept. 3.
The FDA said the latest expansion followed new information from an onsite inspection of the Chilean firm. The agency noted the company had not provided all records the FDA requested during the original outbreak investigation.
A linked E. coli outbreak sickened 17 people in Florida and Georgia, hospitalizing six. No deaths were reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the outbreak over on Sept. 21, but the FDA said additional potentially contaminated products had since been identified.
The FDA has placed Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. on Import Alert 99-35. Frozen blueberries from the firm offered for entry into the United States may now be detained at the border without physical examination.
Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening kidney condition. Consumers with questions can contact company media representative Joshua Weiss at 336-899-5612 or [email protected], Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
