A family from Florida is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Publix and the distributor Quirch Foods, alleging that a woman passed away and her son was hospitalized following the consumption of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries sold by the supermarket chain.
FOX 35 Orlando reported on Thursday that the lawsuit claims Karla Mullins fell ill after ingesting the frozen blueberries purchased at a Publix store on Ulmerton Road in Largo.
Her son also consumed the same blueberries and became so ill that hospitalization was necessary, according to the report.
The suit states that Mullins died on June 20. Her husband and son are now seeking damages from Publix and Quirch Foods, which is identified in the lawsuit as the intermediary distributor.
The legal action accuses both companies of being accountable for distributing a product deemed defective and dangerously contaminated.
The law firm Morgan & Morgan, representing the family, asserted that Mullins "should be alive today" and declared their intention to hold the companies accountable for allowing the contaminated product to reach consumers.
The connection between the blueberry consumption and Mullins' death is part of the suit's allegations and has not yet been verified by a court or health authorities.
Federal authorities have confirmed that the frozen organic blueberries supplied by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. from Chile were linked to a multi-state E. coli O145 outbreak.
The CDC revealed that a sample of GreenWise blueberries tested by Publix was positive for the same strain found among affected individuals.
In a final update on September 21, the CDC declared the outbreak over, noting 17 confirmed cases across two states, with six hospitalizations and no officially recorded deaths. The illnesses occurred between May 11 and August 2.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that the Florida Department of Health reported a cluster of E. coli O145 infections on July 1. Interviews with the sick individuals identified GreenWise blueberries sold at Publix as the primary food under investigation.
The Chilean supplier initially recalled a batch of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries on July 3. Later, on July 29, Publix expanded the recall to include all batches of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries in 10 and 48-ounce sizes.
These products had been distributed in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The recall was eventually classified as the highest risk level. By August, it was reported that Publix had extended the recall of GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries to all available batches, following the FDA's classification of the action as Class I due to potential contamination with E. coli O145:H28.
The investigation was later broadened to include other products from the same supplier. In September, the FDA announced that Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. had extended the recall to a batch of Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold at Walmart, distributed across 26 states and Puerto Rico.
Understanding the Impact of the E. coli Outbreak Linked to Blueberries
What is the basis of the lawsuit against Publix and Quirch Foods?
The lawsuit alleges that Publix and Quirch Foods are responsible for distributing a contaminated product, leading to the death of Karla Mullins and the hospitalization of her son.
What actions have been taken in response to the E. coli outbreak?
The FDA and CDC have investigated the outbreak, leading to recalls of GreenWise and Great Value organic berry products. These measures were taken to prevent further contamination and illness.
How widespread was the distribution of the recalled products?
The recalled products were distributed in several states, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico.