A frozen berry blend sold at select Walmart stores in Ohio has been pulled from shelves over potential E. coli contamination.

The FDA posted a recall notice Sept. 3 after Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a Chilean produce company, expanded an earlier recall to include one lot of Great Value Frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend. The 10-ounce bags contain strawberries, blackberries and blueberries.

Shoppers in Montgomery, Blue Ash and Sycamore Township who buy frozen fruit at area Walmart locations should check their freezers.

What to look for

The recalled bags carry a "Best If Used By" date of Feb. 9, 2028, lot code 6040 01-6 printed on the front of the package and UPC 7874211226. No other Great Value frozen fruit products or other lots of the triple berry blend are affected.

Customers who have the product should not eat it. Walmart will issue a full refund for returned packages, Fox 19 reported.

Tied to a broader outbreak

The recall is part of a larger federal investigation into an E. coli O145:H28 outbreak linked to frozen organic blueberries from the same Chilean supplier. As of Sept. 3, the CDC counted 17 people infected across Florida and Georgia. Six were hospitalized. No one has died. Illness onsets ranged from May 11 through Aug. 2.

No illnesses have been tied to the Great Value product specifically. The company described the expanded recall as a precautionary step after traceback information connected the Walmart lot to the same batch of blueberries involved in the original July 3 recall of GreenWise-brand frozen fruit sold at Publix stores. The FDA classified that earlier GreenWise recall as Class I, its highest risk level.

Health risks

E. coli O145 can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, according to the FDA recall notice. Most healthy people recover within a week. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure.

Freezing does not kill E. coli. Recalled berries remain unsafe no matter how long they have been in the freezer.

What's next

The FDA's outbreak investigation remained open as of Sept. 3, and the agency said additional products may be added to the advisory. The FDA has placed the Chilean supplier on Import Alert 99-35, meaning future shipments may be detained at the U.S. border.

Consumers with questions about the recall can call Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. at 336-899-5612.