The E. coli outbreak is over. The frozen berries recall keeps growing.

On September 21, 2026, U.S. health officials declared an E. coli O145 outbreak linked to frozen organic blueberries over. Eleven days later, on October 2, the recall behind it grew again: more lots of Great Value frozen berries sold at Walmart, and for the first time a Trader Joe's berry blend. An outbreak ending is not the same as the product leaving your freezer — and with "Best by" dates running into 2028, these bags can sit there a long time.

Which frozen berries are recalled

The recalling firm is Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile. Its October 2 announcement, published by the FDA, covers these products and lot codes:

The lot code is printed on the front of Great Value bags and on the back of Trader Joe's bags. The Great Value products went to Walmart stores in 30 states and Puerto Rico; the Trader Joe's blend went to 26 states and the District of Columbia. Together that is 33 states, plus Puerto Rico and D.C.: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Three recalls in three months

This is the third time the same supplier has widened the same recall. Each step reached a new store brand:

• July 3 — GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries, sold at Publix in eight southeastern states, after 12 confirmed illnesses. We covered it at the time: organic frozen blueberries recalled for E. coli.
• September 2 — one lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend at Walmart, in 26 states and Puerto Rico.
• October 2 — five more Great Value lots and one Trader Joe's lot, described by the firm as "a precautionary measure following traceback information" linked to the first recall.

The outbreak itself is closed. According to the FDA and CDC, it made 17 people sick in Florida and Georgia, 6 of them hospitalized, with no deaths. Eleven of the 13 people interviewed reported eating frozen blueberries. The FDA has also placed the firm's products on an import alert. No illnesses are mentioned in the October 2 announcement.

One lot, written three different ways

Look closely at the paperwork and the same lot keeps coming back. The July GreenWise announcement lists lot 60401. The FDA enforcement record for it reads 6040 01. The September Great Value notice prints 6040 01-6, and its FDA record says 6 040 01-6. The new list includes 6 040 01 again. All carry the same Best by date, February 9, 2028.

The official documents never say it outright, but the pattern is consistent: frozen berries from one production lot ended up in several brands' bags. For anyone checking a freezer, the practical lesson is simple. Compare the digits, not the spacing: "60401", "6040 01" and "6 040 01" are the same code, and the trailing "-6" may or may not be printed on your bag.

Why E. coli O145 in frozen fruit deserves a real check

E. coli O145:H28 produces Shiga toxin, like the better-known O157:H7. It can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. In some people — most often young children and older adults — it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure.

Freezing does not kill the bacteria; it only stops them from growing. Frozen berries are also often eaten without cooking: in smoothies, on yogurt, in overnight oats. Blending does not make them safe.