Widespread E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Publix GreenWise Frozen Berries

It's a stark reminder of how quickly a seemingly harmless grocery item can become a serious health concern. An E. coli outbreak, specifically involving the rather nasty Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145:H28, has sickened at least a dozen individuals and sent four to the hospital. The culprit? Frozen organic blueberries and mixed berries under Publix's own GreenWise label, sourced all the way from Chile.

Imagine the concern gripping health officials across several states as reports of E. coli infections started to trickle in, all seemingly connected to a popular freezer staple. The initial recall, announced by the supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile, began earlier in July 2026. This was prompted by a presumptive positive test for E. coli, a finding no one wants to see in their food supply.

Publix, to their credit, reacted swiftly. Even before the expanded public announcement, they had already put an internal "stop sale" on these specific GreenWise organic whole blueberries and mixed berries towards the end of June. Then, on July 29th, the recall broadened significantly, encompassing all lots of GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries. The FDA updated their public information just the next day, on July 30th, making sure the word got out.

So, what exactly are we talking about? Initially, the recall centered on 10-ounce bags of GreenWise frozen organic blueberries with a lot code of 60401 (or 6040 01) and a best-by date of February 9, 2028, identified by GTIN/UPC 41415-06453. However, the expanded recall covers much more. If you've got any 10-ounce or 48-ounce bags of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries (UPC 41415-06453 or 41415-12053 respectively) or GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries (10-ounce with UPC 41415-06753, or 48-ounce with UPC 41415-12153), you'll want to pay close attention.

The illness onset dates for the 12 confirmed cases range from May 11th to June 5th, 2026. While the product was distributed to Publix stores in eight states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia – the reported illnesses, thankfully, have been confined to Florida and Georgia so far. Still, it's a serious matter, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health departments, including Florida's, are working tirelessly to investigate and ensure public safety.

For consumers, the message is clear and incredibly important: if you have any of the recalled GreenWise frozen organic blueberries or mixed berries in your freezer, do not eat them. Please, discard them immediately. You can typically return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, even without a receipt. Your health, and the health of your loved ones, is simply not worth the risk.