Potomac-area shoppers who bought frozen organic berries at Trader Joe's should check their freezers for a recalled product linked to E. coli contamination.

Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. expanded its recall on Oct. 2. The expansion added one lot of Trader Joe's frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend (12 oz, SKU 97765) to a recall that began in July. The product may be contaminated with E. coli O145:H28, a strain that can cause bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting.

Maryland is among 26 states and the District of Columbia where the recalled Trader Joe's bags were shipped. The North Potomac Trader Joe's at 10076 Darnestown Rd. in Rockville is the closest store to Potomac Village.

What to look for

The recalled lot is printed with code "Best Before: 02/20/2028, CF 6 051 01-5, Product of Chile." That code appears on the back of the package. Frozen berries can sit in a home freezer for years, which is why the recall keeps expanding months after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the underlying outbreak over on Sept. 21.

Freezing does not kill E. coli. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says consumers should throw the product away or return it to Trader Joe's for a full refund.

The broader recall

The Oct. 2 expansion is the fourth recall action from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur since July. Earlier rounds pulled Publix GreenWise blueberries and, in September, Great Value products at Walmart in 30 states. Maryland is not on the list of states that received the recalled Great Value products, according to the FDA notice. Only the Trader Joe's product is confirmed for Maryland.

The related outbreak sickened 17 people in Florida and Georgia and hospitalized six, according to Food Poison Journal. No deaths were reported. No illnesses have been linked to the newly recalled lots.

Trader Joe's said in its recall notice that regulatory investigations are closed and no further expansion of the Trader Joe's recall is expected.

What to do

E. coli O145 poses the greatest risk to young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. It can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that may cause kidney failure, according to the FDA.

Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur at 336-899-5612, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, or by email at [email protected].