Frozen fruits from Great Value and Trader Joe’s recalled in Puerto Rico over E. coli risk
The FDA announced an expansion of a voluntary recall by a Chilean company of specific lots of organic frozen blueberries and berry blends sold at Walmart stores on the island.
The short version
- El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported that Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of Chile issued the recall notice to the FDA for possible E. coli O145 contamination
- Products include specific lots of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, Great Value Organic Blueberries sold at Walmart in Puerto Rico, and Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend with best-by dates in 2028
- The bacteria can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting; young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems face higher risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome
- FDA advised consumers to discard or return the items for a full refund; the expansion follows an initial recall announced July 3, 2026 and an outbreak declared over on Sept. 21
Recall details for Puerto Rico
Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., based in San Carlos, Chile, notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of an expanded recall of frozen fruit products that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O145:H28, also known as STEC. El Nuevo Día reported. The affected items were distributed to selected Walmart stores in 30 states including Puerto Rico, according to the FDA notice cited by both outlets. No Trader Joe’s stores operate in Puerto Rico.
Specific products and lot codes listed by the FDA include Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 oz (UPC 7874211226, lots 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, best by Jan. 31, 2028 and Feb. 10, 2028), Great Value Organic Blueberries 10 oz (UPC 7874211213, lots 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01, best by Jan. 19, 2028, Feb. 9, 2028 and June 12, 2028), and Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend 12 oz (UPC 00977654, lot 6 051 01). Primera Hora reported. Consumers should check freezers for these exact codes.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
The FDA recommended consumers to dispose of or return the products for a full refund.
The source's own statement, as quoted by FDA. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Health risks and consumer advice
The FDA stated that the STEC strain can cause intense abdominal cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting. Most healthy people recover within a week, but the infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication involving kidney damage, particularly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora cited the FDA warning.
The agency recommended that anyone who purchased the listed products should not consume them even if within the best-by date, and should throw them away or return them to the store for a full refund. The recall expansion was issued as a precaution after additional tracing information linked the items to an earlier recall announced on July 3, 2026. The company is cooperating with regulators.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora agree on the company name, the affected Great Value products sold at Walmart in Puerto Rico, the E. coli strain, symptoms, at-risk groups, and the FDA’s discard-or-return advice. Primera Hora provides additional details on the original July 3, 2026 recall, a September expansion, the outbreak closure on Sept. 21 with 17 illnesses in Florida and Georgia, six hospitalizations and zero deaths, and notes the Trader Joe’s distribution covered 26 states plus D.C. El Nuevo Día lists exact best-by dates for all three products while Primera Hora describes them more generally.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many units reached Puerto Rico stores, whether any contaminated product was actually purchased or consumed on the island, if any local illnesses have been linked to these specific lots, or what actions Walmart in Puerto Rico is taking to notify customers beyond the general FDA alert. No timeline for completing the recall or further testing results was provided.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Retiran frutas congeladas distribuidas en Puerto Rico por posible contaminación con E. coli
- Reporting Retiran frutas congeladas distribuidas en Puerto Rico por posible contaminación con E. coli
- Reporting Alerta por frutas congeladas vendidas en Puerto Rico: estas marcas podrían estar contaminadas con E. coli
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora both based their coverage on the same FDA recall notice issued after the company’s voluntary action. Details on the linked outbreak and its closure rest solely on the Primera Hora account of the FDA update.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.