What frozen berries have been recalled? Past U.S. recalls have included certain frozen organic strawberries and berry blends, but recalls apply to specific products and lot codes—not every bag of a brand or type of berry.
Recall notices change, and a product recalled in the past may no longer be under an active alert. Below, you’ll find notable U.S. examples, practical steps for checking a bag at home, and what to do if you already ate recalled berries.
Because a recall list can’t replace a current check, use the product name, package size, lot code, and date details in the latest official notice before deciding whether your berries are affected.
What frozen berries have been recalled in the United States?
Notable U.S. frozen-berry recalls have involved specific batches of strawberries, strawberry-containing blends, and mixed berries. Some were recalled over possible hepatitis A contamination. The examples below are historical; they do not mean every product listed remains under an active recall.
In 2023, recalls involving frozen organic strawberries included products sold under several store and specialty brands. The notices named products associated with Scenic Fruit Company and California Splendor. In earlier years, recalls involving frozen berry products included Townsend Farms’ Organic Antioxidant Blend in 2013 and Wawona Frozen Foods products in 2014. Those older events are useful context, not proof that a bag you have today is affected.
There is no single permanent list of recalled berries. An active notice applies to the products, sizes, codes, and distribution described in that notice. A brand may sell unaffected products alongside a recalled batch, and the same type of berries from another supplier may not be involved.
| Recall example | Products or brands reported | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 frozen organic strawberry recalls | Some products sold as Kirkland Signature, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, and PCC Community Markets; certain Trader Joe’s products were also included in notices. | Only specified products and codes were affected. Compare your package with the relevant notice; a brand name alone is not enough. |
| 2014 Wawona Frozen Foods recall | Certain frozen berry products, including a three-berry blend distributed through Costco. | This was a past recall. It does not mean current products from the retailer or supplier are recalled. |
| 2013 Townsend Farms recall | Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend sold at Costco. | The recall was associated with a hepatitis A outbreak. It is a historical example, not a current blanket warning. |
Brand and product names in a notice are only a starting point. Official notices may identify package sizes, lot numbers, best-by dates, distribution areas, or other details. Check all of those details against your bag before treating it as a match.
Why were some frozen berries recalled?
Food can be recalled when a company or food-safety authority identifies a possible health risk, a labeling problem, or another issue that could make a product unsafe. Frozen berry notices have included concerns about hepatitis A, a virus that can affect the liver.
Hepatitis A can spread when food is contaminated by an infected person or through contaminated water or handling. Freezing preserves berries but does not reliably kill hepatitis A. That is why a frozen product can still be subject to a recall for this hazard.
A recall is a precaution or response tied to a defined product. It does not mean that all frozen fruit is dangerous, that every product from a named company is affected, or that illness is certain after eating a recalled item. It does mean you should follow the instructions in the notice rather than taste the food to assess it.
How to check whether your bag is part of a recall
Use the package itself and the full official recall notice. Don’t rely on a headline, social media post, or a brand name by itself. These steps help you make a careful match:
- Find the product name. Check whether the bag contains strawberries, a berry mix, or a fruit blend named in the notice. Similar-looking products can have different suppliers.
- Compare the brand and package size. A recall may cover one store brand, one bag size, or a particular product sold through certain retailers.
- Look for the lot or production code. These codes may appear near the best-by date, on the back seam, or elsewhere on the package. Copy the full code accurately.
- Check the date information. Compare any best-by, use-by, or production dates listed in the notice. A date that looks close is not a confirmed match unless the notice says it is covered.
- Check where and when it was sold. Some notices identify particular stores, states, or distribution periods. Keep those limits in view.
- Follow the notice’s instructions. If your product matches, stop using it. The notice may say to throw it away or return it, and may provide a refund process.
If the package is missing or the code is unreadable, don’t guess that it is safe based only on the brand. Check the current notice and contact the retailer or manufacturer for help identifying the product. If you cannot confirm the bag is outside the recall, follow the safer disposal or return advice in the notice.
Where to find current frozen berry recall notices
For a current U.S. check, look at the FDA’s food recall and safety alerts and relevant notices from the manufacturer or retailer. The FDA is a useful starting point for many packaged foods. If an alert involves a specific outbreak, the CDC may also publish public-health information.
Search using the product name and the words “recall” or “safety alert,” then open the full notice rather than relying on a search-result snippet. Confirm that the notice is current and read the product details, affected codes, and actions requested. A news story can help you find an alert, but the complete notice is what you need to check your package.
Recall pages change as investigations develop. A company may expand a recall, add products, or clarify which codes are affected. Check again if you heard about the issue from an older article or alert, especially before eating a product that has been in your freezer for a while.
What to do if you have recalled berries
If your package matches an active recall, do not eat, serve, or taste the berries. Follow the notice’s instructions for disposal or return. Keep the product away from other food while you handle it, and wash your hands after touching the package or berries.
If the berries leaked or touched a shelf, bowl, or utensil, clean the affected area and wash items that can be washed with hot, soapy water. Follow any extra cleaning directions in the official notice. Do not rinse recalled berries and then use them; rinsing cannot reliably remove a virus or make recalled food safe.
For a refund, use the retailer or manufacturer’s process if one is provided. You may need the package, receipt, or product information, but do not keep recalled food in your kitchen just to preserve proof of purchase. Take a photo of the label first if that helps document the item.
What if you already ate berries that were recalled?
Eating a recalled product does not guarantee that you will become ill. The next step depends on the hazard named in the notice, how much time has passed, your health, and whether symptoms develop. Read the notice and contact a healthcare professional if you have concerns, particularly if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or have liver disease.
For a hepatitis A concern, symptoms can include tiredness, nausea, stomach discomfort, fever, dark urine, pale stools, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Symptoms may take weeks to appear, so feeling well immediately after eating the food does not rule out exposure. Contact a clinician or local health department promptly for advice if you may have eaten a product in a hepatitis A recall.
Health authorities may recommend time-sensitive steps for some people after a known exposure. A healthcare professional or public-health department can advise whether those steps apply to you. Seek urgent care for severe symptoms or signs of serious illness.
How frozen berries differ by recall status
The package type alone does not tell you whether berries are recalled. This comparison shows why the product details matter:
| What you have | Does that alone confirm a recall? | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| A bag with a brand named in an old recall article | No. The notice may cover only specific dates or codes. | Find the original notice and compare every listed product detail. |
| A bag matching the brand and product name in a current notice | Not necessarily. Size, code, date, and distribution can still matter. | Compare the complete label with the notice before using it. |
| A bag with no readable code or packaging | You may not be able to confirm either way. | Ask the retailer or manufacturer; if uncertainty remains, follow the notice’s cautious guidance. |
| Frozen berries not named in a current notice | Not based on that notice, but recall information can change. | Check current alerts when you have a specific safety concern. |
Common mistakes when checking a berry recall
Assuming every bag from a named brand is recalled
Notices usually define an affected product more narrowly than a brand. Check the exact variety, package size, lot code, date, and sales details. Treating a whole brand as recalled can cause unnecessary waste, while overlooking the code can lead you to keep a product that does match.
Assuming freezing or cooking always makes the product safe
Freezing does not reliably destroy every foodborne pathogen. Heating may reduce some hazards when food reaches an appropriate temperature throughout, but it is not a substitute for following a recall notice. Don’t use recalled berries in a smoothie, baked dish, sauce, or cooked topping unless the notice specifically says that use is safe.
Thinking a clean appearance means the berries are safe
Foodborne viruses and bacteria are not necessarily visible, and contaminated food may look and smell normal. Don’t taste a berry to check it. Use the recall information, not appearance, as your guide.
Throwing away the berries but forgetting the blender
A smoothie can spread food residue to a blender jar, lid, cutting board, or serving cup. If recalled berries were used, clean items that contacted them and follow the relevant recall’s sanitation advice. This practical step is easy to miss when attention is focused only on the bag.
Buying and storing frozen berries safely
Choose packages that are sealed and intact, and follow the storage directions on the label. Keep frozen berries frozen until you are ready to use them. If a bag is damaged or its contents have thawed and refrozen, follow food-safety guidance and the package instructions rather than relying on the berries’ appearance.
Save or photograph the label when you open a bag. The brand, product name, size, and lot information can be hard to recover after the package is discarded. Keeping those details makes it easier to check a new alert and identify the exact product if a recall is announced.
For people at higher risk of serious foodborne illness, ask a healthcare professional about safer ways to prepare fruit. Washing can remove some dirt and debris, but it does not reliably eliminate all germs or make recalled food safe. Follow official handling advice for the specific hazard.
The answer to what frozen berries have been recalled depends on the exact product and batch. Past U.S. notices have included certain frozen organic strawberries and berry blends, but a brand name or berry type alone does not establish that your bag is affected.
Check the current FDA alert and compare the product name, size, lot code, and date on your package. If it matches, stop using it and follow the notice’s disposal or return directions; if you already ate it and are concerned, contact a healthcare professional.