Publix has expanded its recall of frozen berry products, now covering all lots of its GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries sold across eight states, due to potential E. coli contamination.

The Lakeland, Florida-based grocery chain announced Wednesday that it is voluntarily recalling all lots of the frozen fruit products "out of an abundance of caution" after public health officials linked them to a multistate E. coli O145 outbreak through trace-back and epidemiological investigation. Frozen berries have been a recurring focus of food safety investigations in recent years, as pathogens can survive freezing temperatures and the products are often consumed without a cooking step that would kill harmful bacteria.

The recalled products were distributed to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Publix stated that it implemented an internal stop sale at the end of June, and the affected items remain unavailable for purchase.

The expanded recall follows a July 3 recall issued by Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., which initially involved a single lot of GreenWise Organic Blueberries. Publix said it broadened the recall to include all lots of both GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries based on information gathered during the ongoing public health investigation.

Customers are urged not to consume the recalled products and should either discard them or return them to any Publix store for a full refund. The affected items include:

• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce packages (UPC 41415-06453)
• GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 48-ounce packages (UPC 41415-12053)
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10-ounce packages (UPC 41415-06753)
• GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 48-ounce packages (UPC 41415-12153)

According to the Food and Drug Administration, Escherichia coli O145:H28 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and vomiting. E. coli O145 belongs to a group of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing strains that public health agencies have increasingly monitored in recent years. While most healthy individuals recover within approximately one week, some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially serious complication that poses a greater risk to young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

FOX Business contacted Publix for additional comment, including whether any illnesses have been linked specifically to products sold at its stores and what prompted the decision to expand the recall to all lots. Publix did not immediately respond.

Customers with questions can contact Publix Customer Care at 800-242-1227, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Additional information about the outbreak investigation is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States, operates more than 1,400 stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.