What We Know About the Publix GreenWise Blueberries E. coli Recall
The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O145:H28 infections tied to frozen GreenWise Organic blueberries sold at Publix. As of July 6, 2026, 12 people are sick and 4 have been hospitalized across Florida and Georgia, with no deaths. Illnesses began between May 11 and June 5, 2026. On July 3, 2026, the packer, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile, recalled one lot of the blueberries, and on July 29 Publix recalled every lot of its GreenWise Organic frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries.
Which Blueberries Were Recalled
There have been two recalls, and the second swallowed the first. The July 3 recall covered a single lot of frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries in 10 oz bags, lot 60401, Best By February 9, 2028. FDA has since classified that recall as Class I, its most serious category, reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious health consequences. Then, during a remote inspection of the Chilean packer, FDA found concerns about at least one other lot of blueberries used in additional GreenWise products. On July 29, 2026, Publix recalled all lots of:
- GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries, 10 oz (UPC 41415-06453) and 48 oz (UPC 41415-12053)
- GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries, 10 oz (UPC 41415-06753) and 48 oz (UPC 41415-12153)
Because every lot is recalled, you don’t need to check codes or dates. If any of these products are in your freezer, don’t eat them. Publix pulled them from sale at the end of June, and CDC says to throw recalled berries out or return them to the store for a full refund. FDA confirmed shipments to Publix stores in 8 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. That is confirmed distribution, not the whole picture, since FDA says the blueberries may have been distributed to other retailers and may have reached additional states.
E. coli O145 and the Risk of Kidney Failure
E. coli O145 is a less familiar serotype than O157:H7, but it makes Shiga toxin the same way, so the illness and the risks look the same. Four of the 12 people in this outbreak were hospitalized, a third of the confirmed cases. CDC says symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria, and FDA notes they can begin anywhere from a few days after a contaminated meal to as late as nine days later, so a bag eaten early in the week can put someone in the hospital the following week. The complication to watch for is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which CDC calls a medical emergency and which can lead to kidney failure. CDC says HUS is most common among children younger than 5 who have diarrhea, and that adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are among those most likely to get severely ill from E. coli. Anyone who develops bloody diarrhea, reduced urination, or extreme fatigue after eating the recalled blueberries should get medical care right away. You can learn more on our E. coli lawyer and HUS lawyer pages.
The FDA and CDC Outbreak Investigation
The investigation is still open. CDC and FDA count 12 illnesses, 4 hospitalizations, and no deaths across Florida and Georgia, and neither agency has determined how the blueberries were contaminated. CDC also says the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported, because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.
Here’s how it surfaced. The Florida Department of Health notified CDC of a cluster of E. coli O145 illnesses on July 1, 2026. Interviews pointed to frozen blueberries. FDA reports that 7 of the 9 sick people questioned reported eating them, and 5 specifically named GreenWise brand organic frozen blueberries bought at Publix. Publix ran an internal stop sale, and the packer recalled the lot on July 3. On July 6, the FDA and CDC posted a formal outbreak investigation, and the July 29 all-lots recall grew out of what FDA’s inspection of the packer found. The agencies warn that the product may have reached other states and that more illnesses could be added as the investigation continues. We’ll update this page as officials release new information.
First Lawsuit Filed Against Publix
On July 13, 2026, Ron Simon & Associates and Elizabeth Zwibel Law filed the first lawsuit over this outbreak in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Publix on behalf of Florida residents Oscar and Roberta Cash. Ron Simon & Associates alleges that both ate GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries in May 2026 and developed bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, stomach cramps, dehydration, and fever. Roberta Cash was hospitalized at Jupiter Medical Center for 10 days, then transferred to a nursing facility for nearly three more weeks, and she continues to receive medical care.
“Unfortunately, safety checks were missed in the production of the GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries, which were contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a potentially life-threatening bacteria that is not killed by freezing,” said attorney Ron Simon.
If you or a family member ate recalled GreenWise Whole Blueberries or Whole Mixed Berries and were diagnosed with an E. coli infection, Ron Simon & Associates is investigating additional claims. Call the GreenWise Organic Blueberry Claim Center at 1-888-335-4901 for a free case review.
Your Legal Rights
If a recalled GreenWise blueberry or mixed-berry product made you or your child sick, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and the pain and disruption the illness caused. Under product liability law, everyone in the chain that put a contaminated food on the shelf can be answerable for the harm, from the grower and packer through to the store whose brand is on the bag. Here that chain runs from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur in Chile to GreenWise, the Publix store brand. In most states you don’t have to show that any of them was careless, only that the berries were contaminated by the time they reached you, and what that takes does change from state to state.
What a claim needs is proof, and proof fades fast. A stool culture confirming E. coli O145 lets the lab compare your strain with the outbreak strain. A Publix receipt or your digital account history ties you to the purchase. Because every lot is recalled, any bag of one of the four listed GreenWise products falls within the recall. The bag or receipt helps prove the purchase, while timing, lab results, and other evidence help connect an illness to the outbreak. If some of that is already in the trash, it is still worth a call because purchase records and lab results can often be retrieved later.
Ron Simon & Associates is a food poisoning law firm that has recovered over $850 million for victims nationwide. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and results vary by case. Our E. coli lawyers focus on foodborne illness cases and are reviewing claims tied to these recalled GreenWise berry products. You pay our law firm nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Call 1-888-335-4901 for a free consultation.