The walmart great value berry recall is drawing attention from shoppers after a specific lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend was pulled from select Walmart stores over possible contamination with E. coli O145. The affected frozen fruit comes in 10-ounce packages and contains strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Consumers who have the recalled product at home should not eat it and should follow the recommended disposal or refund instructions.
The recall is part of a continuing food-safety investigation involving frozen organic berries supplied by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., a company based in San Carlos, Chile. While no illnesses have been specifically connected to the recalled Great Value product, health authorities are investigating an outbreak involving the same strain of E. coli.
What Great Value Berry Product Is Recalled?
The recalled item is Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, a frozen fruit product commonly used for smoothies, breakfast bowls, desserts and baking.
Only a specific lot is involved in the current Walmart recall. Consumers should check the product information carefully instead of assuming that every Great Value frozen berry product is affected.
The recalled product can be identified using the following details:
- Brand: Great Value
- Product: Organic Triple Berry Blend
- Package size: 10 ounces
- Fruit: Strawberries, blackberries and blueberries
- UPC: 7874211226
- Lot code: 6040 01-6
- Best If Used By date: February 9, 2028
- Retailer: Select Walmart stores
The lot code is printed on the front of the package, making it possible for consumers to compare their frozen berries with the recalled product.
If the package matches the recalled lot, consumers should not consume the berries even if they appear normal.
Why Were the Great Value Berries Recalled?
The product was recalled because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O145, commonly referred to as E. coli O145.
This is a type of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. Certain STEC infections can cause significant gastrointestinal illness and, in more serious cases, potentially life-threatening complications.
The recall was initiated as a precaution after information from an earlier frozen berry investigation indicated that products connected to the same supplier could pose a contamination risk.
There is an important distinction for shoppers: health authorities have not reported illnesses specifically associated with the recalled Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend. The product is being removed from the market because of the potential contamination risk and information gathered during the broader investigation.
Where Was the Recalled Product Sold?
Those states are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Wisconsin
The distribution list is particularly important for consumers who regularly purchase frozen fruit from Walmart. People living in these states should check their freezers for the specific product and lot information.
However, consumers should not assume that every Great Value berry package in those states is part of the recall. The warning applies to the identified product and lot.
How Can Shoppers Check Their Freezer?
Frozen berries can remain in a freezer for a long time, so consumers may still have recalled packages even if they purchased them weeks or months ago.
The first step is to locate any Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend packages in the freezer.
Check the following information:
Package size: 10 ounces
UPC: 7874211226
Lot code: 6040 01-6
Best If Used By: February 9, 2028
The lot code is particularly important because other Great Value products may have different production codes and are not necessarily included in this recall.
If the original packaging is no longer available, determining whether the fruit came from the recalled lot may be difficult. Consumers who cannot establish the identity or source of frozen berries should avoid eating them.
What Should Consumers Do With the Recalled Berries?
Consumers who find the affected Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend should not eat it.
The recommended options are to discard the product or return it to Walmart for a full refund.
Consumers should not open the package and taste the fruit to determine whether it is safe. Harmful bacteria cannot necessarily be detected by looking at, smelling or tasting food.
If the berries have already been removed from their original packaging, consumers may not be able to confirm the lot code. In that situation, throwing the product away is the safer choice if its identity cannot be established.
Households should also take care when handling recalled frozen food. If the package has leaked or thawed, surfaces and containers that came into contact with the product should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
Could Recalled Berries Make Someone Sick?
E. coli O145 can cause gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms may include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. Diarrhea can sometimes become bloody.
Symptoms do not necessarily appear immediately after eating contaminated food. According to health authorities, symptoms can begin several days after exposure and may occur as long as nine days later.
Most healthy people recover from an E. coli infection, but some cases can become serious.
One of the most concerning complications is hemolytic uremic syndrome, commonly called HUS. This condition can affect the kidneys and may require hospitalization.
Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems can face a greater risk of serious complications.
Anyone who develops significant symptoms after consuming a recalled food product should contact a healthcare professional and explain the possible food exposure.
What Is Known About the Broader E. Coli Investigation?
The Great Value recall is connected to an ongoing investigation involving E. coli O145 and frozen organic berries.
The investigation initially focused on frozen organic blueberries sold under the GreenWise brand at Publix stores. Additional berry products were subsequently identified through traceback and supply-chain information.
As of the latest federal update, investigators have identified 17 people infected with the outbreak strain in two states. Six people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Reported illnesses began between May 11 and August 2, 2026.
Investigators have also found a notable connection between the outbreak and consumption of frozen blueberries. Among interviewed patients, most reported eating frozen blueberries before becoming ill.
That information does not mean that the recalled Great Value Triple Berry Blend caused those illnesses. No illnesses have been specifically associated with the Walmart product as of the latest recall information.
Instead, the Great Value product is being recalled because of information obtained during the investigation and concerns about possible contamination.
Why Frozen Fruit Recalls Can Be Difficult to Detect
Frozen fruit presents a unique challenge during food recalls because consumers often store it for extended periods.
Unlike fresh berries, which are usually consumed relatively quickly, frozen fruit can sit in a freezer for months. A shopper may therefore have a recalled package at home without remembering when it was purchased.
Frozen berries are also frequently transferred into other containers. Some consumers divide large packages into smaller freezer bags, while others remove fruit from its original packaging before freezing it.
That can make product identification difficult once the original label is gone.
For this reason, consumers should keep recalled frozen fruit in its original packaging until they have confirmed that it is safe to consume.
What If the Berries Were Used in a Smoothie?
Consumers who used the recalled berries to make smoothies or other foods should consider whether any prepared food remains.
If recalled berries were used in a smoothie, dessert or other ready-to-eat food, that food should not be consumed.
Utensils, blender containers, cutting boards, countertops and other surfaces that came into contact with the recalled fruit should be washed thoroughly. Cleaning and sanitizing these areas can help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Consumers should also wash their hands after handling recalled food or packaging.
Does the Recall Include Every Great Value Berry Product?
No.
The current warning applies to a specific lot of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend in 10-ounce packages.
It does not mean that every Great Value frozen berry product sold by Walmart is unsafe.
Consumers should therefore avoid unnecessarily throwing away unrelated frozen fruit products unless they have been identified as part of a recall.
The most useful information to check is the product name, package size, UPC, lot code and Best If Used By date.
Because food-safety investigations can change as additional information becomes available, consumers should continue checking for new recall information when appropriate.
What Makes E. Coli O145 a Concern?
E. coli is a broad group of bacteria, and not every strain causes serious illness. However, certain strains produce Shiga toxins that can damage the intestinal tract and cause severe disease.
E. coli O145 belongs to the Shiga toxin-producing group.
An infection may initially resemble a stomach illness, but symptoms can become more severe. Bloody diarrhea and intense abdominal pain are warning signs that require medical attention.
HUS is among the most serious complications associated with certain STEC infections because it can interfere with kidney function and other parts of the body’s normal blood-clotting system.
Consumers should never ignore severe symptoms following a potential foodborne exposure.
What Consumers Should Remember
The most important point is that the recall is limited to an identified Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend lot.
If your package matches the recalled details, do not eat it.
Instead:
- Stop using the product immediately.
- Do not taste the berries to check whether they are safe.
- Keep children and pets away from the recalled food.
- Dispose of the product or return it to Walmart for a refund.
- Clean surfaces and containers that came into contact with the berries.
- Monitor for symptoms if you previously consumed the recalled product.
- Seek medical advice if concerning symptoms develop.
Walmart Great Value Berry Recall: What Happens Next?
The current investigation remains active, meaning additional information could become available as federal, state and local health authorities continue examining the supply chain.
Consumers should understand that a recall does not necessarily mean that every package of a particular product is contaminated. In this case, the identified lot is being removed because authorities and the manufacturer cannot establish that the product is safe.
The best approach for shoppers is to rely on the identifying information printed on the package and follow the safety instructions associated with the recall.
For families that regularly use frozen fruit, this incident also highlights the importance of maintaining organized freezer storage and keeping products in their original packaging whenever possible.
Final Takeaway
The Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend recall affects a specific 10-ounce lot sold at select Walmart stores in 16 states. The product contains strawberries, blackberries and blueberries and may be contaminated with E. coli O145.
The affected package has lot code 6040 01-6, UPC 7874211226, and a Best If Used By date of February 9, 2028.
No illnesses have been specifically attributed to this Great Value product, but the recall is connected to an ongoing investigation involving the same E. coli strain and frozen organic berries.
Consumers who discover the affected product in their freezer should not eat it. The safest response is to discard it or return it to Walmart for a refund. Anyone who develops severe gastrointestinal symptoms after a possible exposure should seek medical advice promptly.
Key Points Summary
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – A specific 10-ounce Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend lot is being recalled over possible E. coli O145 contamination. ║
║ – The affected package has lot code 6040 01-6, UPC 7874211226, and a Best If Used By date of February 9, 2028. ║
║ – The frozen blend contains strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. ║
║ – The recalled product was distributed to select Walmart stores in 16 states. ║
║ – No illnesses have been specifically associated with the recalled Great Value product as of the latest update. ║
║ – The broader E. coli investigation has identified 17 illnesses and six hospitalizations, with no reported deaths. ║
║ – Consumers with the affected product should not eat it and should discard it or return it to Walmart for a refund. ║
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