Hinsdale-area shoppers who buy frozen berries at Walmart or Trader Joe's should check their freezers for products linked to an E. coli outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday, Oct. 2 that Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded its recall to include additional lots of Great Value frozen organic berries sold at Walmart and one lot of Trader Joe's frozen organic mixed berry blend. The expansion, first reported by NBC Chicago, marks the second time the recall has grown since it was first issued July 3.
The recalled Great Value products were shipped to Walmart stores in 30 states including Illinois. The Trader Joe's product went to stores in 26 states including Illinois. The nearest Trader Joe's locations to Hinsdale are in La Grange and Downers Grove. The nearest Walmart Supercenter is in Villa Park, about five miles away.
The key identifier is a "Best By" date in 2028. The specific recalled products are:
- Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 oz (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries): UPC 7874211226, Lot Code 6 031 01 or 6 041 01 (front of package), Best If Used By Jan. 31, 2028 or Feb. 10, 2028
- Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10 oz: UPC 7874211213, Lot Code 6 019 01, 6 040 01 or 6 163 01 (front of package), Best If Used By Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; or June 12, 2028
- Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12 oz: UPC 00977654, Lot Code 6 051 01 (back of package), Best Before Feb. 20, 2028
The FDA's recall notice warns that the products may be contaminated with E. coli O145, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. 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 complication that can cause kidney failure.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) closed its investigation into the outbreak Sept. 21. In total, 17 people were infected and six were hospitalized. No deaths were reported, according to the CDC's outbreak page.
Frozen products can sit in a household freezer for months, so the FDA urges consumers to look even if they do not recall buying the berries. Anyone who finds a recalled product should throw it away or return it to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a full refund.
Consumers with questions can contact the recall's media liaison, Joshua Weiss, at [email protected] or 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
