Frozen organic berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's in South Carolina are part of an expanded recall over E. coli contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

The Oct. 2 recall covers Great Value Frozen Organic Blueberries (10 oz.) and Great Value Frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz.) sold at Walmart stores in 30 states, including South Carolina. One lot of Trader Joe's Frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend (12 oz.), sold in 26 states including South Carolina, is also affected.

Residents who have any of these products in their freezers should throw them away or return them to the store for a full refund.

The recall is the third expansion by Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., which first pulled product on July 3 and expanded the recall again on Sept. 3 before the latest Oct. 2 action, according to the FDA's recall notice.

The contamination is linked to an outbreak of E. coli O145:H28, a strain that produces Shiga toxin. Seventeen people across Florida and Georgia were infected between May 11 and Aug. 2, according to the FDA's outbreak investigation page. Six were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the outbreak over on Sept. 21. The Oct. 2 recall expansion is a precautionary measure based on traceback data linking additional product lots to the same supplier.

WBTV reported on the recall Sunday, Oct. 4.

Because the recalled products carry best-by dates stretching into 2028, the FDA warned that consumers may still have them at home. The agency said recalled products should no longer be on store shelves.

What to check in your freezer

Great Value Organic Blueberries (10 oz.)

  • UPC: 7874211213
  • Lot codes (printed on front): 6 019 01, 6 040 01, 6 163 01
  • Best-by dates: Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; June 12, 2028

Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz.)

  • UPC: 7874211226
  • Lot codes (printed on front): 6 031 01, 6 041 01
  • Best-by dates: Jan. 31, 2028; Feb. 10, 2028

Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend (12 oz.)

  • UPC: 00977654
  • Lot code (printed on back): 6 051 01
  • Best-before date: Feb. 20, 2028

Symptoms and who is at risk

E. coli O145 infection can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the FDA. Symptoms usually begin three to four days after exposure, and most healthy people recover within a week.

Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication.

How to get more information

Consumers with questions can contact Joshua Weiss at Comfrut, the supplier's U.S. representative, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.

A related recall of Publix GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries, linked to the same Chilean supplier, was issued July 29 and covered South Carolina stores as well.