Before you dump frozen berries into your morning smoothie or oatmeal, you might want to hold off. On October 2, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. initiated a recall of berry blends and blueberries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s due to potential E. coli contamination, according to an announcement shared by the FDA. This expands on two previous recalls from the company earlier this year. Here’s how to figure out whether your berries were affected—and what to do if they were.
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Why were the frozen berries recalled?
The frozen berries were potentially contaminated with E. coli 0145, a strain of bacteria that can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. While most people will recover in a week, the infection can lead to serious complications in certain people, including young kids and older adults.
This isn’t the first time these berries have been recalled. Based in Chile, the manufacturer has initiated recalls on July 3 and September 3 of this year — which is why this is considered an expansion on the recall. That means new information has linked these new batches of berries to the original recall in July.
This new recall now includes:
- Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 oz: These have the UPC code 7874211226 and Best If Used By dates of Jan. 31, 2028 and Feb. 10, 2028. They have lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01.
- Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10 oz: These have the UPC code 7874211213 and Best If Used By dates of Jan. 19, 2028, Feb. 9, 2028 and June 12, 2028. The lot codes are 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01.
- Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12 oz: These have the UPC code 00977654 and a Best If Used By date of Feb. 20, 2028. Their lot code is 6 051 01.
The Great Value berries were sold in the following 30 states, plus Puerto Rico:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
The Trader Joe’s berries were sold in 26 states as well as the District of Columbia:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
What to do if your frozen berries were recalled?
Obviously, don’t eat them. Instead, toss them or return them to Walmart or Trader Joe’s and you can get a full refund, according to the FDA announcement.
Other frozen berries and produce cleaners to use instead
You don’t have to skip frozen berries altogether. Other varieties are available, and if you’re worried, you can clean fresh berries with produce cleaners to feel at ease. Here’s what we recommend.
This organic berry blend has a mix of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. It contains no other ingredients and is quick-frozen to better preserve flavor.
We’ve recommended this fruit and vegetable wash before, since it’s great for cleaning everything from leafy greens to strawberries. Its mix of water, glycerin, potassium hydroxide, citrus and seed oils and emulsifying acids like oleic and linoleic acids can help remove the waxy coating on fruit that can harbor contaminants, according to the brand. While washing fruit already contaminated would not make it edible, this could give you some peace of mind when rinsing fruit that has not been recalled.
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Why trust NBC Selected?
I’m a freelance beauty and wellness writer and editor who has been covering beauty and health for more than a decade. I wrote this story based on information found in an enforcement report issued by the FDA.
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