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UAE confirms GreenWise frozen berries recalled in US over E. coli risk not sold locally
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said relevant regulatory authorities carried out checks and reviewed import and local market data after the US recall
- PUBLISHED: Sat 22 Aug 2026, 11:36 PM UPDATED: Sat 22 Aug 2026, 11:57 PM
The UAE on Saturday, August 22, confirmed that GreenWise frozen berry products recalled in the US over possible E. coli contamination were not sold locally.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said relevant regulatory authorities carried out checks and reviewed import and local market data following the US recall. No affected GreenWise products were found to have entered or been sold in the UAE, the ministry confirmed.
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This confirmation comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elevated the recall of GreenWise organic frozen blueberries and whole mixed berries to its highest-risk Class 1 category.
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The products were recalled by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. after being linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak. The recall, initially issued for GreenWise organic blueberries on July 3, was expanded on July 29 to include frozen mixed berries.
According to the FDA’s last update on July 30, the outbreak had sickened 12 people and hospitalised four. E. coli infection can cause symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, and may lead to more serious complications in some cases.
The affected berries were sold at Publix stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. They have been removed from shelves, although some products carry expiration dates extending into 2028.
What does FDA’s Class 1 designation mean?
A Class I recall is the FDA’s most serious designation. The FDA’s Class 1 designation means there is a "reasonable probability" that use of the recalled products could cause serious health consequences or death.
Customers who bought the affected berries with an expiration date before February 9, 2028, have been advised not to consume them and to either discard the products or return them to Publix for a refund.
The FDA also urged customers to clean and sanitize containers or surfaces that might have touched the recalled products.
