FDA Gives Publix Frozen Berry Recall Its Highest Risk Classification - Check Your Freezer

(MENAFN- Budget and the Bees) A bag of frozen berries can sit unnoticed in the back of a freezer for months, which is exactly why shoppers should pay attention to a Publix recall that has now received the FDA's highest risk classification. The FDA classified the GreenWise frozen berry recall as Class I on August 18 over possible E. coli O145:H28 contamination, a designation used when exposure carries a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death. The recall itself had already expanded on July 29 to cover all lots of four GreenWise Organic frozen blueberry and mixed-berry products. FDA reports 12 illnesses, four hospitalizations and no deaths in the outbreak investigation, with illnesses reported in Florida and Georgia. If you checked your freezer when the recall first appeared in early July, check again-the lot number that looked safe then may no longer matter.

Why You May Need to Check Your Freezer Again

This recall has changed significantly since consumers first heard about it in early July. The initial July 3 recall involved one lot of 10-ounce GreenWise Organic Blueberries, but Publix expanded the action on July 29 to include all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries in both 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages. The FDA subsequently classified the recall as Class I on August 18, its most serious recall classification. That classification reflects the potential health consequences; it did not create a new list of recalled products. Someone who checked a bag against the original July lot number and put it back in the freezer should therefore check again because the expanded recall now covers all lots of the four affected products.

Check Four These 4 These GreenWise Products In Your Freezer

The frozen berry recall covers four products: GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in the same two sizes. The products were distributed to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Importantly, the recall applies to all lots of these four products, so shoppers should not assume their bag is safe simply because its lot number looks different from one mentioned earlier. Publix has advised customers not to consume the berries and to discard them or return them to a store for a full refund.

Product	Size	UPC
GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries	10 oz.	41415-06453
GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries	48 oz.	41415-12053
GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries	10 oz.	41415-06753
GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries	48 oz.	41415-12153

Why This E. Coli Strain Is a Serious Concern

The bacteria involved in the frozen berry recall is E. coli O145:H28, a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, capable of causing potentially serious illness. FDA says symptoms can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may become bloody, nausea, vomiting and fever, with symptoms potentially beginning several days after eating contaminated food. In some cases, infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a potentially life-threatening complication involving kidney failure. FDA reports 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations in the current outbreak, with no deaths reported, and notes that young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems can face particular concern from serious complications. Anyone who ate the recalled berries and develops symptoms resembling an E. coli infection should contact a healthcare provider promptly.

Freezing the Berries Does Not Make Them Safe

One misconception worth clearing up is that dangerous bacteria cannot survive inside a freezer. The FDA explains that while freezing stops most bacteria from growing, it does not kill most bacteria, meaning contaminated food does not automatically become safe simply because it has remained frozen for weeks or months. This is particularly important with frozen berries because people commonly add them directly to smoothies, yogurt, breakfast bowls and desserts without cooking them first. A recalled bag may look, smell and taste completely normal, since food contaminated with disease-causing organisms doesn't necessarily show obvious signs of spoilage. Check the product name, size and UPC instead of trusting appearance, smell or the amount of time the berries have spent in your freezer.

The investigation has also moved beyond consumers' freezers. FDA says it identified concerns during a regulatory assessment of Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. and has placed products from the company on an import alert, allowing certain frozen blueberries offered for U.S. entry to be detained without physical examination while the firm addresses the agency's concerns.

What Shoppers Should Do Right Now

Start by looking through your freezer, including opened packages that may have been transferred to another shelf or pushed behind other foods. If you find one of the recalled GreenWise products, do not taste the berries to determine whether they seem safe. Consumers have been instructed to throw the product away or return it to Publix for a full refund. If berries spilled or came into contact with containers or freezer surfaces, carefully cleaning those areas is also a sensible precaution against cross-contamination.

Pay particular attention to berries transferred into reusable freezer containers or bags. FDA says that if you froze a product without its original packaging and cannot determine whether it is part of the recall, throw it away rather than guessing. Most importantly, remember that this frozen berry recall concerns specific GreenWise products sold through Publix, not every brand of frozen blueberries or mixed berries on the market.

A Quick Freezer Check Could Prevent A Serious Problem

Food recalls can be easy to ignore when the affected item disappeared from grocery shelves weeks ago, but frozen foods create a special challenge because they can remain in homes for a long time. The Class I classification makes this frozen berry recall one worth checking before making your next smoothie, breakfast bowl or dessert. A few minutes spent matching the product and UPC numbers could prevent someone in your household from eating recalled fruit. Consumers should continue watching for updated recall information, particularly when food stored for months is involved.

Do you regularly check your freezer after hearing about a food recall, or have you ever discovered a recalled product weeks later? Share your experience and thoughts in the comments.

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