American consumers are being warned to check their freezers after federal health authorities announced another expansion of a frozen berry recall.
The US Food and Drug Administration said additional lots of Great Value frozen organic blueberries, Great Value organic triple berry blend and Trader Joe's organic mixed berry blend were added to the recall.
The products have best before dates extending into 2028, meaning potentially affected packages could remain inside household freezers for a long time.
The original investigation involved an outbreak of E. coli O145 associated with frozen organic blueberries.
According to the FDA, 17 illnesses were identified in Florida and Georgia, with six people hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
The outbreak itself was declared over in September, but additional potentially contaminated products were later identified during the investigation.
Consumers who still have recalled products should not eat them. The FDA recommends throwing them away or returning them to the store where they were purchased.
Symptoms of E. coli infection can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. In some cases, infections can lead to serious kidney complications.
