If you've got a bag of Great Value frozen berries in your freezer, stop and check it. Walmart is recalling an organic frozen berry mix over possible E. coli contamination. This is part of a bigger outbreak that has already sickened 17 people in two states.
Quick Take
- Walmart recalls Great Value Organic Triple Berry (frozen strawberries, blueberries, blackberries), 10-ounce bags, sold in 16 states.
- This adds to an earlier recall of GreenWise frozen berries sold at Publix in 8 states.
- The FDA calls this a Class I recall — its most serious level, meaning eating the berries could cause serious harm or death.
- As of September 3, the outbreak has sickened 17 people, with 6 hospitalized, in Florida and Georgia.
- If you have the recalled berries, don't eat them. Toss them or return them for a refund.
What's Being Recalled
The new recall covers one product: Great Value Organic Triple Berry, sold in 10-ounce bags at Walmart. It has UPC 7874211226, lot code 6040 01-6, and a best-by date of February 9, 2028. That date is far in the future, so plenty of bags may still be sitting in freezers right now.
This isn't the first recall tied to this outbreak. Back in July, Publix recalled several GreenWise frozen berry products after its supplier, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., flagged contamination in one batch. In August, the FDA bumped that recall up to Class I, its highest risk level.
The FDA says there's "a reasonable probability" that eating the berries could "cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
That's about as serious a warning as the FDA gives.
Where the Berries Were Sold
The Walmart product was sold in 16 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
The Publix products were sold in 8 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
| Retailer | Brand | States Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Great Value Organic Triple Berry | 16 |
| Publix | GreenWise Organic Blueberries/Mixed Berries | 8 |
Why This Matters for Your Health
The bacteria involved is called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. It usually causes stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, showing up 3 to 4 days after eating the contaminated food.
Most healthy adults get better on their own. But in rare cases, it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome — a life-threatening condition that can shut down your kidneys. Young kids, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a weak immune system face higher risk.
What to Do Right Now
Check your freezer for any of the recalled products. Don't eat them, even if the best-by date is years away — this is about bacteria, not spoilage. You can throw them out or bring them back to Walmart or Publix for a full refund.
What's Next
Health officials are still investigating, so this list could grow. Keep an eye on FDA recall notices if you regularly buy frozen organic berries from either store.
