Food Safety Roundup: Blueberry Recall, a Growing Cyclospora Outbreak, and What Miami Kitchens Should Know

Foodborne illness tends to make headlines every summer, and the past few weeks have been busy. From a frozen blueberry recall tied to E. coli, to a fast-growing Cyclospora outbreak, to the close of a federal investigation into a deadly infant-formula case, here is a plain-language rundown of the stories food handlers and operators in Miami should have on their radar — and what they mean for your kitchen.

Frozen blueberries recalled at Publix over E. coli

In early July, Chilean grower-packer Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., which sells under the Comfrut brand, recalled its 10-ounce GreenWise Organic IQF (individually quick frozen) Blueberries after the product tested presumptively positive for E. coli O145:H28, a Shiga toxin-producing strain (STEC). The affected lot — code 6040 01, Best By Feb. 9, 2028 — was distributed exclusively to Publix stores in eight states, including Florida.

According to the company's notice, the recall was prompted by reports of 12 people who became ill between May 11 and June 5, 2026. One important caveat, raised by food safety attorney Bill Marler: as of the recall, that case count came from the company itself, and no matching outbreak notice had been posted by the FDA or CDC. In short, treat the illness figure as the company's report rather than a confirmed federal count.

For a kitchen, the takeaway is simple: check your freezers, pull any matching lot, and remember that "frozen" and "organic" do not mean "sterile." Frozen berries have been linked to outbreaks before, which is why many operators handle ready-to-eat frozen fruit meant to be served raw with the same care as fresh produce.

A summer surge of Cyclospora

Health officials are tracking a large summer wave of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite spread through food or water contaminated with feces. The numbers, though, are genuinely confusing. Through a mid-June cutoff, the CDC counted 145 U.S.-acquired cases across 17 states, while several state health departments have reported far higher totals — Michigan alone has topped 700 confirmed cases, many times its usual annual count. The CDC has since said the true number of people infected is likely in the thousands.

Investigators in Michigan believe lettuce and/or salad mixes are the likely source, though as of mid-July no single grower, brand, or supplier had been named and no recall issued. Cyclospora is hard to trace because symptoms can take a week or more to appear and the parasite evades standard stool tests.

Why it matters for food service: Cyclospora is usually tied to fresh produce, especially leafy greens and herbs. Thorough washing helps but does not guarantee removal, so sourcing from reputable suppliers, keeping produce properly refrigerated, and following your establishment's food safety plan are your best defenses. Any employee with prolonged watery diarrhea should see a doctor and stay off food-handling duties until cleared.

A federal infant-formula investigation closes

The U.S. Department of Justice has closed its investigation into Abbott Laboratories connected to a 2021-2022 Cronobacter case involving infant formula. In that episode, four infants who had consumed Abbott formula became ill and two died; Abbott recalled Similac, Alimentum and EleCare products and temporarily closed a manufacturing plant, which contributed to a nationwide formula shortage. The plant has since reopened.

It is worth being precise here: investigators were never able to conclusively link the specific infections to the formula, and the DOJ closed its probe without announcing charges. The case remains one of the most significant food safety stories of the decade because of its public health impact and the questions it raised about oversight of a critical product.

The bottom line

Recalls and outbreaks are a reminder that food safety is a daily discipline, not a once-a-year task. Well-trained teams catch recalled products faster, handle produce more safely, and know when a sick employee needs to stay home. If your Miami-area team needs Florida-approved food handler or food manager certification, SafeFoodHandler Miami can help.

📞 305-341-3480 | safefoodhandlermiami.com

This summary was prepared by SafeFoodHandler Miami based on reporting by Food Safety News and public information from the CDC and FDA. It is for general educational purposes and is not medical or legal advice.