The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a recall of frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores to its highest Class I risk classification.

The move, announced this week, applies to GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries. The agency determined there is a reasonable probability that consumption could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Publix initiated the recall on July 29, 2026, covering all lots of the products after potential E. coli O145:H28 contamination was identified. The items were sold in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. An earlier recall of a single lot occurred on July 3.

Health officials have linked the products to 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations as part of a multistate outbreak investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state partners continue to investigate.

Consumers are advised not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled products. The blueberries and mixed berries remain unavailable for sale at Publix locations. Affected packages include 10-ounce and 48-ounce sizes of the organic whole blueberries and whole mixed berries.

The FDA defines a Class I recall as the most serious type, reserved for situations posing the greatest threat to public health. The agency continues to monitor the situation and provide updates on its website.