Blueberry Recall Hits Oregon Potato Company After FDA Upgrade
The blueberry recall of 55, 689 pounds of individually quick-frozen fruit by Oregon Potato Company was initiated on Feb. 12 and this week was upgraded by the FDA to a Class I recall, a change officials say reflects a life-threatening Listeria monocytogenes risk.
What the recall covers and how the fruit was packed
The affected product includes 30-pound cases and 1, 400-pound totes. The 30-pound cases carry expiration dates from July 23, 2027, to July 24, 2027, and bear lot codes 2055 B2, 2065 B1 and 2065 B3; these are packaged in polyethylene bags inside corrugated cases with a dual-layered design. The 1, 400-pound totes are identified by lot codes 3305 A1 and 3305 B1, both expiring on Nov. 25, 2027, and are packed in polyethylene liners within Gaylord totes—heavy-duty industrial-grade plastic bags placed in large bulk-shipping containers.
Blueberry Recall traced to Oregon Potato Company in Salem
Oregon Potato Company, a family-owned business based in Salem that specializes in frozen and dehydrated potatoes, vegetables and fruits, flagged the individually quick-frozen blueberries on Feb. 12. The company did not respond to a request for comment, and it was not sold directly to consumers in retail stores; the FDA said the product moved between businesses within the supply chain. It is unclear in the provided context whether consumers purchased the product through other channels.
Where the product was distributed
The FDA notice lists distribution in Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, and distribution throughout Canada. The agency did not specify exact sellers or explain how consumers might have come into contact with the product beyond supply-chain movement between businesses.
Listeria risks, symptoms and vulnerable groups
The FDA flagged the risk as Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium the agency says can be present in soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation and animals and is often transmitted where food is harvested and processed in manufacturing or production environments. Mild listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; more severe infections can be life-threatening and include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Populations most at risk include newborns, pregnant women, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.
Recall status and next steps
The FDA upgraded the action to a "Class I" recall, meaning there is a "reasonable probability that exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death, " and the recall remains ongoing. The recall was initiated email and regulators continue to monitor distribution and advise businesses that received the lots to follow recall procedures for 30-pound cases (lots 2055 B2, 2065 B1, 2065 B3, exp. July 23–24, 2027) and 1, 400-pound totes (lots 3305 A1, 3305 B1, exp. Nov. 25, 2027).
The recall remains ongoing and the FDA has upgraded the action to Class I after the initial Feb. 12 notice; officials and the company have said the product was distributed in Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Canada and that the product was not sold in retail stores.
