AUGUST 19, 2026
Stock image of blueberries.
A series of blueberry and mixed berry products that were recalled due to possible E. coli contamination have been issued the highest risk warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Class I risk classification, issued on Tuesday, applies to four GreenWise products sold at Publix:
- Organic Whole Blueberries – 10 oz – UPC number: 41415-06453
- Organic Whole Blueberries – 48 oz – UPC number: 41415-12053
- Organic Whole Mixed Berries – 10 oz – UPC number: 41415-06753
- Organic Whole Mixed Berries – 48 oz – UPC number: 41415-12153
A Class I risk classification—one of three—represents “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to the FDA.
Publix recalled all lots of the products on July 29 because they may have been contaminated with E. coli O145, a strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The berries were shipped to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
As of July 30, the FDA had reported 12 illnesses in Florida and Georgia, including four hospitalizations. No deaths had been reported. The illnesses began between May 11 and June 5, according to the FDA, which said its investigation remained ongoing.
What Is E. Coli?
Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, is a large group of bacteria typically found in the intestines of people and animals. Most strains are harmless and contribute to intestinal health, but some can cause serious illness when contaminated food or water is consumed, according to the FDA.
The E. coli O145 identified in the recalled berries is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. These bacteria produce toxins that can damage the intestinal lining and, in severe cases, cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
Pathogenic E. coli can enter the food supply when fecal matter contaminates food or water. Wildlife, livestock and humans can carry the bacteria, which may spread through contaminated crops, undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products or poor hand hygiene.
Anyone can become infected, but children younger than 5, adults older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of severe illness.
Recall Comes Amid Wider Foodborne Illness Concerns
The blueberry recall comes amid renewed attention on the global burden of diseases transmitted through food. A recent World Health Organization-backed study estimated that invasive parasites transmitted through food caused approximately 171 million illnesses worldwide between 2000 and 2021.
The study examined 14 parasitic diseases and linked them to an estimated 4.89 million disability-adjusted life years—a measurement combining years lost through premature death with years lived with illness or disability. Researchers said the findings showed that foodborne parasites continue to cause “considerable suffering,” despite an overall decline in their global burden.
E. coli is a bacterium rather than a parasite, and the blueberry outbreak is not connected to the illnesses examined in the study. However, both underscore the continuing risks posed when harmful organisms enter the food supply and the importance of surveillance, sanitation and rapid outbreak investigations.
Consumers should not eat the recalled berries and should instead throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, according to the FDA. Anyone who removed the berries from their original packaging and cannot determine whether they are included in the recall should also discard them.
The agency advised consumers to clean and sanitize surfaces or containers that may have touched the products and to contact a health care provider immediately if they develop symptoms of an E. coli infection.
Courtesy: Newsweek
