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Publix Frozen Berry Recall Given FDA’s Most Serious Classification
The FDA said 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations were linked to the recalled berries, which may have been contaminated with E. coli O145.
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration upgraded its recall of frozen GreenWise products sold at Publix to a Class I warning, the highest health risk level, indicating a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death.
Publix initiated the recall on July 29 after identifying possible E. coli O145 contamination, a strain that causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting in exposed individuals.
Recalled items include 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Mixed Berries distributed across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
As of July 30, health officials reported 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations linked to the outbreak; berries with expiration dates into February 2028 could remain in consumers' freezers.
Consumers should immediately discard affected berries or return them to Publix for a full refund, as the FDA warns consumption poses a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death.