FDA Issues Highest-Risk Recall on 55,000 Pounds of Frozen Blueberries
More than 55,000 pounds of frozen blueberries are now under a Class I recall, the most serious level issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, over fears of potentially deadly Listeria contamination.
Federal regulators say the recall involves bulk shipments of individually quick-frozen blueberries distributed by Oregon Potato Company, operating as Willamette Valley Fruit Company. The product was not sold directly to shoppers in grocery stores, but instead moved through the supply chain to other businesses in several U.S. states, including Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as parts of Canada.
The concern centers on Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause a serious infection known as listeriosis. For most healthy adults, symptoms may resemble mild food poisoning, including fever, nausea, or diarrhea. But for pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, the consequences can be far more severe. In extreme cases, the infection can become life-threatening.
What makes Listeria especially troubling is its ability to survive and even grow in cold environments. Unlike many other bacteria, it can persist in refrigerated and frozen foods. That means contamination in frozen fruit products is taken very seriously by health officials.
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The affected blueberries were packaged in large 30-pound cases and 1,400-pound industrial totes, primarily intended for food service operations or food manufacturers. Specific lot codes and expiration dates have been identified and the recall remains ongoing. Regulators have elevated the action to a Class I designation, which indicates there is a reasonable probability that exposure could cause serious health consequences or death.
At this stage, there has been no public announcement of confirmed illnesses linked to these blueberries. Still, the classification signals that health authorities see the risk as significant.
This recall also highlights a broader issue within food production and distribution. Even products that appear low-risk, like frozen fruit, can become vehicles for dangerous bacteria if contamination occurs during harvesting, processing, or packaging. And because bulk shipments often move across state and national lines, the potential reach can be wide.
Food safety officials are continuing to monitor the situation and businesses that received the affected product are expected to remove it from circulation immediately.
If you or someone you know may have been exposed and begins experiencing symptoms consistent with listeriosis, health experts advise seeking medical attention promptly.
Stay with us for verified updates on this developing recall and other critical public health alerts as they unfold.
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