Blueberry recall over deadly E. coli fears hits FDAs highest-risk level with 12 sickened, 4 hospitalized

That bag of frozen blueberries in your freezer could be more than just a smoothie staple.A recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and whole mixed berries has been slapped with the FDA’s highest-risk classification amid an investigation into a potentially dangerous E.coli outbreak that has sickened 12 people and hospitalized four.The FDA has classified the recall as Class I, its most serious designation, meaning there is a “reasonable probability” that consuming or being exposed to the recalled product could cause serious health consequences or death.Thankfully, no deaths have been reported, but the FDA’s investigation is still underway.The 12 illnesses were reported in Florida and Georgia between May 11 and June 5, according to the FDA.The recalled berries were sold at Publix stores across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.It started with a single lot.

On July 3, Chile-based Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A.recalled frozen GreenWise organic blueberries after testing flagged a presumptive positive for E.

coli.Three weeks later, the recall got a whole lot bigger — Publix pulled all lots of GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries from the shelves.The FDA said Publix had also conducted an internal stop-sale of the products at the end of June.The recalled products include:The original July 3 recall involved a single 10-ounce lot with the printed lot code 60401 — also displayed as 6 040 01 — and a best-by date of Feb.9, 2028.But the subsequent Publix recall covers all lots of the GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries listed above.The products may be contaminated with E.

coli O145:H28, a strain that can produce Shiga toxins capable of causing serious illness.Most E.coli infections resolve on their own, but certain infections can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and, in some cases, lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, o...