Walmart shoppers are being urged to check their freezers after a batch of Great Value frozen berries was recalled due to an ongoing multistate E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized six peopl
Walmart shoppers are being urged to check their freezers after a batch of Great Value frozen berries was recalled due to an ongoing multistate E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized six people.
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a Chilean food producer, expanded an earlier blueberry recall on Sept. 2 to include one lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold at select Walmart stores across 16 states. The US Food and Drug Administration published the recall notice the following day.
The affected 10-ounce bags contain strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. They carry UPC 7874211226, lot code 6040 01-6 and a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028.
The products were shipped to Walmart locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
Consumers should not eat the recalled berries and are advised to throw them away or return them to Walmart for a refund.
E. Coli Outbreak Reaches 17 CasesThe recall is connected to an investigation into E. coli O145:H28 infections associated with organic frozen blueberries supplied by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur.
As of the FDA's Sept. 3 update, 17 infections had been reported in Florida and Georgia, with six people hospitalized and no deaths. Eleven of 13 patients interviewed by health officials said they ate frozen blueberries before becoming ill. Illnesses linked to the outbreak began between May and August.
Importantly, regulators said no illnesses have been directly associated with the recalled Great Value Triple Berry Blend itself. Its inclusion in the recall followed traceback information from the wider investigation.
E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Most people recover within about a week, but some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially serious kidney complication.
(Source: Talking about Electron Microscopy of Foods)
Walmart Stock Holds SteadyWalmart shares showed little reaction during Wednesday's trading session. WMT closed Sept. 10 at $105.73, down just 0.09% from its previous close of $105.83.
The stock briefly climbed above $107 earlier in the session before giving up those gains. After hours, Walmart edged back up 0.09% to around $105.82.
Walmart stock price (Source: CoinCodex)
The muted move suggests the recall has so far had little visible impact on investor sentiment, particularly given that no illnesses have been directly tied to the Great Value product.
