Frozen organic berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's in North Carolina are part of an expanded E. coli recall, federal regulators announced.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a Chilean fruit supplier, on Friday, Oct. 2, expanded its recall to cover additional lots of three products: Great Value frozen Organic Blueberries (10 oz), Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz) and Trader Joe's frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend (12 oz). The expansion is the third recall action tied to the same supplier, according to the FDA.

The berries may be contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the supplier's frozen blueberries to 17 infections in Florida and Georgia between May 11 and Aug. 2. Six people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Eleven of 13 people interviewed reported eating frozen blueberries before becoming ill, according to the FDA. The CDC declared the outbreak over on Sept. 21.

What's recalled

The Great Value frozen Organic Blueberries carry UPC code 7874211213 and lot codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01, with best-if-used-by dates of Jan. 19, 2028; Feb. 9, 2028; and June 12, 2028.

The Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend carries UPC code 7874211226 and lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, with best-if-used-by dates of Jan. 31, 2028, and Feb. 10, 2028.

The Trader Joe's frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend carries UPC code 00977654 and lot code 6 051 01, with a best-before date of Feb. 20, 2028.

The Great Value products were shipped to Walmart stores in 30 states including North Carolina. The Trader Joe's product went to stores in 26 states and the District of Columbia, also including North Carolina.

Why it matters now

Those best-by dates stretch into 2028, meaning recalled bags could still be sitting in home freezers months after purchase. The FDA said in its Sept. 21 outbreak update that recalled products should no longer be on store shelves but urged consumers to check their freezers.

The FDA stated that consumers who have the recalled products should not eat them and should discard the bags or return them to Walmart or Trader Joe's for a full refund.

Symptoms and next steps

E. coli O145:H28 can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC's outbreak advisory. Symptoms begin three to four days after exposure. Most healthy adults recover within a week, but young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk of a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The FDA said anyone who ate the recalled berries and has symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately.

Consumers with questions can contact the supplier's media representative, Joshua Weiss, at [email protected] or 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, as first reported by WBTV.