The US Food and Drug Administration has expanded the recall of frozen blueberries and berry blends after an outbreak of E. coli O145 linked to frozen organic blueberries sickened 17 people in two states.

The latest recall does not mean that the outbreak is growing. The CDC recently declared that the outbreak was over on September 21, with no new illnesses reported since then. But on October 2, the company at the centre of the investigation expanded its recall to include additional batches of frozen berry products after the FDA obtained new information during an onsite inspection.

The agency said the company had previously not provided all records requested by FDA investigators. After obtaining additional information, the FDA identified more products that could be contaminated and the company expanded its recall.

The FDA has also added the Chilean company, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A.. to Import Alert 99-35, which means that frozen blueberries from the company entering the US can be detained without physical examination.

Which Frozen Berries Are Now Recalled?

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The expanded recall involves products sold under Great Value and Trader Joe’s brands. The affected products include:

• Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10-ounce packages, with lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01
• Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10-ounce packages, with lot codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01 and 6 163 01
• Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12-ounce packages, lot code 6 051 01

The recalled Great Value products were distributed to Walmart stores in 30 states and Puerto Rico, while the recalled Trader Joe’s berry blend was distributed more widely through the retailer. Consumers who have the affected products should not eat them and should discard them or return them for a refund.

Some of the recalled products have 'Best By' dates extending into 2028, meaning they could still be sitting in consumers' freezers despite the outbreak having ended.

E. coli Left 17 Sick

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According to the CDC and FDA, 17 people were infected due to E. coli outbreak across Florida and Georgia. There were six hospitalisations and zero fatalities.

Infections were reported between May 11 and August 2, 2026. Among 13 people interviewed during the investigation, 11 reported eating frozen blueberries, which strengthened the epidemiological link to the packaged produce.

Earlier in the investigation, one sample of GreenWise frozen organic blueberries collected by Publix tested positive for the same E. coli strain responsible for the illnesses. This led to recalls that were subsequently expanded to other products from the same supplier.

Why Is E. Coli O145 Dangerous?

E. coli O145 belongs to a group known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). These bacteria can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, bloody diarrhoea.

Most people recover, but the infection can sometimes lead to haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can cause kidney failure. Young children, older adults and people with weak and strained immunity are particularly vulnerable to severe illness.

People who develop symptoms after eating a recalled product should contact a healthcare provider, particularly if they develop bloody diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain or signs of dehydration.

Consumers should also check their freezers rather than assume recalled products have already been removed from stores. The FDA says recalled products should no longer be available for sale, but some have long shelf lives and may still be at home.

Anyone with one of the affected lot codes should not taste the product to determine whether it is safe. It should be discarded or returned for a refund.

Novartis’ drug remibrutinib can now also be used for adults with symptomatic dermographism, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Marketed as Rhapsido, it is the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for symptomatic dermographism in adults whose symptoms do not sufficiently respond to H1 antihistamines.

Symptomatic dermographism is a condition is a form of chronic hives in which even minor scratching, rubbing or friction can trigger itchy, raised welts on the skin.

This has led Rhapsido to become the only prescription treatment in the US with approved uses for both symptomatic dermographism and chronic spontaneous urticaria when antihistamines alone are insufficient.

FDA Approves Remibrutinib For Symptomatic ermographism

The move came after symptomatic dermographism cohort of the Phase III RemIND trial, which included adults who remained symptomatic despite treatment with second-generation H1 antihistamines.

After 12 weeks, 29.3% of patients taking remibrutinib treated hives completely, compared to 14% of those receiving placebo. Novartis said improvements were seen as early as two weeks.

“SD is a chronic, debilitating condition with historically limited treatment options,” said Giselle Mosnaim, MD, MS, lead RemIND trial investigator. “Remibrutinib offers, for the first time, an approach to treatment specifically for SD patients who remain inadequately controlled with H1 antihistamines alone, representing a meaningful step forward for this population.”

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What Is Symptomatic Dermographism?

Dermographism, sometimes called 'skin writing', occurs when the skin develops raised marks or welts after being scratched or pressurised.

In symptomatic dermographism, the reaction is accompanied by significant itching and hives. A person may develop welts after scratching an itch, rubbing against clothing, carrying a bag, drying off with a towel after a shower or any other everyday friction.

The welts can appear within minutes of the physical trigger, making ordinary contact with the skin unexpectedly uncomfortable.

Symptomatic dermographism is classified as a form of chronic inducible urticaria, meaning the hives are triggered by a specific physical stimulus rather than appearing spontaneously.

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Why Scratching Cause Hives In Symptomatic Dermographism?

The reaction of hives forming after scratching involves mast cells, immune cells found in the skin that can release histamine and other inflammatory substances. When the skin is physically stimulated, these cells activate, triggering the characteristic redness, swelling, and itching.

This is also where remibrutinib works differently from conventional antihistamine. Remibrutinib is an oral, highly selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor.

By blocking the BTK process that is involved in immune-cell signalling and histamine release, the drug aims to reduce the chain of events that produce hives and itching.

Living With Symptomatic Dermographism

For most people, the condition is primarily a chronic quality-of-life problem rather than a life-threatening disease. However, persistent itching and unpredictable hives can interfere with sleep, clothing choices, work, and everyday activities.

The FDA approval does not mean remibrutinib is intended for everyone with dermographism. It is approved for adults whose symptomatic dermographism cannot be controlled by existing H1 antihistamines.

The most common adverse events reported with remibrutinib in trials included nasopharyngitis, bleeding, headache, nausea and abdominal pain.

Around 4.9 million people aged 18 years and over (9.8%) smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2025, down from 10.6% in 2024, continuing the long-term decline in smoking, according to the latest report from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

But as smoking rates fall, vaping has become increasingly common. In Great Britain, around 5.4 million people aged 16 years and over (9.9%) used an e-cigarette daily or occasionally in 2025, according to the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.

For the second consecutive year, e-cigarette use was higher than cigarette smoking. In 2025, there were around:

• 5.4 million current e-cigarette users
• 4.8 million current smokers

The proportion of adults using e-cigarettes has also increased over the longer term, rising from 6.4% in 2020 to 9.9% in 2025.

Vaping Highest Among 25-34-Year-Olds

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E-cigarette use was highest among people aged 25 to 34 years, with 16.4% reporting daily or occasional use.Overall, 6.5% of people aged 16 and over reported vaping daily in 2025, slightly down from 6.7% in 2024. Another 3.4% reported occasional use, up from 3.3%.

The ONS data also show that vaping is not limited to current smokers. In 2025, 7.2% of people reported having previously used an e-cigarette, up from 6.6% in 2024, while the proportion who had never used one fell slightly from 83.4% to 83.0%.

What’s In A Vape?

Vaping is often perceived as a cleaner alternative to smoking because e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco. However, the aerosol produced by these devices can contain substances that may affect the lungs and cardiovascular system.

Unlike harmless water vapour, e-cigarette aerosol may contain:

• Nicotine, which is highly addictive
• Heavy metals, including lead, nickel and tin
• Volatile organic compounds, some of which can be harmful
• Flavoring chemicals, which may have different effects when inhaled
• Ultrafine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs

“Inhaling these substances directly into the lungs introduces not just nicotine, but also numerous potentially carcinogenic and lung-damaging compounds,” said Dr. Arun Chowdary Kotaru, Head and Senior Consultant of Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine.

“This is not harm reduction—it’s harm diversification.”

Why Are Non-Smokers Turning To Nicotine?

Vaping was initially promoted as a smoking-cessation aid and is generally considered less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes are not risk-free.

The concern is particularly relevant for people who have never smoked. For them, taking up vaping can introduce a new source of nicotine exposure and dependence rather than replacing an existing smoking habit.

“Vaping is not harmless,” warns Dr. Arun. “Even if it may contain fewer toxic chemicals than traditional cigarettes, it still delivers a cocktail of harmful substances that are anything but safe.”

Nicotine exposure is also a concern for adolescents because the brain continues developing into the mid-20s.

“The teenage brain is still developing until around the age of 25,” explains Dr. Kotaru. “Nicotine interferes with areas responsible for learning, impulse control, and mood regulation. Early exposure can also set the stage for a lifelong struggle with addiction, increasing vulnerability to other substance abuse later in life.” .

Raw, unpasteurized milk has gained traction in the US over the past two years despite warnings about its health risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has renewed its call for a ban on the sale and distribution of raw milk and dairy products, including raw cheeses.

Recent cases have highlighted the risks associated with raw milk. Two California girls — 17-month-old Brooklyn and 6-year-old Victoria — were hospitalized with near-fatal E. coli infections after drinking raw goat milk. Hundreds of people have fallen ill across nine states in the past two years after consuming raw milk or products made from it.

“Claims that raw milk provides superior health benefits are not supported by scientific evidence,” the AAP said.

Raw Milk Riskier For Children, Pregnant People

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In a policy statement published online ahead of print in the November 2026 issue of Pediatrics, the AAP said unpasteurized milk, cheese and other raw dairy products are unsafe, particularly for young children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

“Nearly half of illnesses caused by raw dairy consumption occur in people under age 20 – and a significant share of those cases are in children under 5,” said Adam J. Ratner, MD, MPH, FAAP, lead author.

“These illnesses can be severe and lead to life-threatening complications. Pasteurization … dramatically reduces the risks without taking away the nutritional value families rely on.”

H5N1 Adds To Raw Milk Concerns

The updated guidance also highlights H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, as an emerging risk associated with raw milk. Sales and distribution of raw milk remain legal in at least 27 states.

The virus can be transmitted from infected dairy cattle into milk, where it can reach high concentrations and remain detectable in refrigerated raw milk for up to five weeks.

During the 2024 US dairy outbreak, infectious H5N1 was detected in nearly one-quarter of raw milk samples in affected areas. However, FDA and USDA testing of commercial pasteurized milk found no viable virus, showing that high-temperature, short-time (HTST) pasteurization neutralizes H5N1.

No human cases of H5N1 infection from consuming raw milk have been confirmed to date, but the AAP considers it a credible emerging threat.

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Raw Milk Can Carry Dangerous Pathogens

Unpasteurized milk can contain Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Brucella. These infections can cause severe illness, hospitalization, miscarriage and death, particularly among young children, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis is estimated to be 12 to 14 times more common during pregnancy than in the general population and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or severe illness in newborns.

AAP Says Pasteurized Dairy Is Safest

“Parents may choose raw milk because they have heard it is healthier or more natural, but the scientific evidence tells a different story,” said Mark R. Corkins, MD, FAAP, co-author of the policy statement.

“Pasteurized dairy products provide the same essential nutrients without exposing children and families to preventable infections from dangerous bacteria and viruses. For infants, children and pregnant people, pasteurized dairy products are clearly the safest choice.”