12 confirmed cases of E. coli O145 have been reported; the recall covers a single lot of 10-ounce GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries
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Publix recalled 10-ounce bags of GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries after 12 confirmed cases of E. coli O145 illness were linked to the product, the company said. The affected berries were distributed to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Only lot code 60401 is subject to the recall, with a best-by date of February 9, 2028; all other lot codes and best-by dates are unaffected. Publix has asked anyone who bought the product through July 3, 2026 to either bring it back to the store for a full refund or throw it away.
The 12 confirmed illnesses were reported between May 11 and June 5, 2026, according to Food Safety News. The berries are produced by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a Chilean grower-packer, after the product tested positive for E. coli O145:H28, a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The supplier has directed businesses that received the product to pull it from inventory and halt further distribution, the company said.
According to Publix's recall notice, infection with E. coli O145 typically presents as vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and intense abdominal cramping. Although the majority of patients fully recover in about a week, a subset of cases — especially among young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals — can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening kidney complication.
Seattle-based food safety attorney Bill Marler flagged the absence of any corresponding announcement from federal health agencies. He told Food Safety News: "As of this writing, the '12 cases' figure comes from the company — not from a health authority. I cannot find a matching outbreak notice from either the FDA or the CDC." Marler acknowledged that Publix's notice references cooperation with "appropriate regulatory authorities," but noted that whatever discussions may be occurring, no agency had made anything visible to the public at the time he wrote.
The Publix recall comes as several other food producers have dealt with contamination-related pullbacks in recent months. Clover Hill Dairy expanded a recall to cover its entire product line in June 2026 after a listeria outbreak linked to the company caused nine illnesses and one death.
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