Twelve people across two states have fallen ill from E. coli O145:H28 tied to a single lot of Publix-branded frozen blueberries, prompting a federal recall and an active investigation that remains open. Four of those patients required hospitalization, though no deaths have been reported. The recalled product, Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries in 10-ounce packages bearing lot code 60401 and a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028, was shipped to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
A single lot code and a narrow illness window
The recall, dated July 6, 2026, targets only one lot of blueberries produced by the South American firm Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. Illness onset dates span from May 11 to June 5, 2026, according to the FDA investigation. That roughly 25-day window, combined with a single lot code, raises a pointed question about the source of contamination. If blueberries from multiple harvests or processing runs were affected, investigators would typically expect a wider date range and additional lot numbers. The tight clustering instead points toward a problem during one discrete production shift or processing batch at the facility rather than broad field-level contamination across growing regions.
Seven of nine interviewed patients reported eating frozen blueberries before becoming sick. Publix has told customers who purchased the product on or before July 3, 2026, to return or discard it, according to the Georgia agriculture notice. That July 3 cutoff date suggests the retailer pulled remaining inventory from shelves before the formal recall announcement, limiting additional exposure but leaving a significant amount of product already in home freezers.
Federal traceback and what the recall notice confirms
The company recall notice, posted through the FDA, identifies the pathogen as E. coli O145:H28 and names the eight distribution states. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. initiated the recall itself, a step that typically follows communication from U.S. regulators after traceback interviews connect illnesses to a specific product. The notice confirms that only the 10-ounce GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries with lot code 60401 and the Feb. 9, 2028, best-by date are included, narrowing the scope of the market withdrawal.
Federal investigators rely heavily on shopper card records, receipts and detailed food histories to zero in on a suspect item. In this outbreak, the pattern of purchases at Publix and the common lot code allowed regulators to trace the product back through the distribution chain to the producing firm in South America. Once that link was established, the company moved to remove the affected blueberries from commerce and notify retailers and consumers.
The FDA’s recall posting states that 12 illnesses, four hospitalizations and no deaths have been linked so far, and it underscores that the outbreak remains active. The same figures appear on the company recall, indicating that public health officials and the manufacturer are aligned on the scope of the problem, at least based on current data.
An uncommon vehicle for a dangerous strain
E. coli O145 belongs to the family of Shiga toxin-producing strains that can cause severe kidney complications, particularly in young children and older adults. Symptoms typically include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may become bloody, vomiting and low-grade fever. In some cases, especially in vulnerable patients, infection can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure that requires hospitalization.
Frozen fruit is not commonly associated with E. coli outbreaks in the United States, which makes this case unusual. Historically, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli has been linked more often to undercooked beef, leafy greens and unpasteurized dairy. Frozen berries have been implicated in other types of foodborne illness, particularly hepatitis A and norovirus, but contamination with this E. coli strain is rare enough that federal officials are emphasizing the need for consumers to check their freezers carefully.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a dedicated outbreak summary, confirming the 12 illnesses, four hospitalizations and lack of deaths while noting that case counts could rise as additional lab results arrive. The CDC update stresses that people should not eat the recalled blueberries even if they have been in the freezer for months, because freezing does not reliably kill E. coli.
What consumers should do now
Health officials are urging anyone who has Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries to check the packaging for lot code 60401 and a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028. Packages matching that description should be thrown away or returned to Publix for a refund. Consumers should avoid tasting the berries to “use them up” and instead place the sealed bag in a trash receptacle that children, pets and wildlife cannot easily access.
People who develop diarrhea, stomach cramps or other gastrointestinal symptoms after eating frozen blueberries from Publix are advised to contact a healthcare provider, especially if symptoms are severe or do not improve within a few days. Clinicians can order stool tests to confirm E. coli infection and report confirmed cases to local health departments, which helps refine the outbreak picture.
For now, investigators continue to examine production records and environmental conditions at the South American facility to determine how a single lot of organic blueberries became contaminated. Until those answers emerge, the recall and ongoing public alerts remain the main tools to prevent additional illnesses from berries that may still be sitting, forgotten, in home freezers.
