Trader Joe's pulled one lot of its frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend from shelves Friday, Oct. 2 because the berries may be contaminated with E. coli.
The recall covers Tennessee stores, including the Spring Hill location, and shops in 25 other states plus Washington, D.C. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted the recall notice Friday, Oct. 2.
Shoppers who bought the 12-ounce bag of Organic Mixed Berry Blend, which contains strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, should check the back of the package for three identifiers:
- UPC: 00977654
- Lot code: 6 051 01
- Best Before date: Feb. 20, 2028
Bags with a different lot code or Best Before date are not affected.
Why the recall happened
Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded an earlier recall that began July 3 and widened Sept. 3. The FDA linked the supplier's frozen blueberries to an outbreak of E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. The outbreak was first identified in Florida and Georgia.
The FDA's outbreak investigation tracked 17 infections between May 11 and Aug. 2, with six hospitalizations and no deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that outbreak over as of Sept. 21.
Some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that may cause kidney failure. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk, according to the FDA.
No illnesses tied to Trader Joe's product
Trader Joe's said in a statement that the recall was issued out of caution and that no illnesses linked to this specific product had been reported. The company said it does not expect any further expansion of the recall to its products, Maury County Source reported.
What to do
The recalled bags carry a Best Before date in 2028, so the product could still be sitting in freezers. Check now.
Anyone with the recalled blend should throw it away or return it to any Trader Joe's store for a full refund. Customers with questions can call Trader Joe's Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. Consumers can also reach the supplier's media contact, Joshua Weiss, at 336-899-5612 or [email protected], Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
The FDA has added products from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. to Import Alert 99-35, meaning future frozen blueberry shipments from the firm may be detained at the U.S. border.
