Publix controversies

Company response

• Recall — Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A.

  It was initially issued on July 3 by Chile-based frozen berries producer Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. for 10-oz bags of GreenWise Organic IQF Organic Blueberries.

• Recall — Publix

  By the end of July, retailer Publix expanded the recall to all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries, based on a product traceback and epidemiological information from public health officials.

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• In August, the FDA classified the recall as a Class I, representing the highest level of risk.

• A recall for frozen blueberries was expanded to include a frozen berry blend due to potential E. coli contamination.

• The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 21 food & beverage products, including 5 dietary supplements and 1 pet food product during the month of September.

Company response

• Refund or compensation — Publix

  Consumers who have purchased the products in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund.

• Remediation — Publix

  As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves

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• Consumers who have purchased the products in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund.

• Publix is recalling several butternut squash products sold at its stores due to possible listeria contamination.

• Publix is recalling several products containing butternut squash over fears they could be contaminated with Listeria.

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• On Wednesday, a case was filed in the Middle District Court of Florida by Publix Asset Management Company and Publix Super Markets, Inc. against Pharmapacks, LLC and Packable Holdings, LLC. The case is regarding infringement upon trademarks and consumer confusion.

• The Lakeland-based company's lawsuit accuses Pharmapacks, an e-commerce platform out of New York, of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution.

• Publix's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tampa, requests a jury trial, injunction and damages.

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• Publix Super Markets agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a religious accommodation discrimination lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Wednesday.

• The applicant wears dreadlocks "as part of his sincerely held Rastafarian religious belief," the EEOC said in the release. He asked for a religious accommodation that would allow him to work for Publix without cutting his hair.

• Judge Eli Richardson entered a two-year consent decree that requires Publix to consider applicants’ requests for religious accommodations; “reasonably accommodate” qualified employees or applicants whose religious beliefs conflict with the company’s grooming standards; and provide training on non-discrimination and religious-accommodation policies to supervisors and human resource employees at the Nashville store.

Company response

• Denial — Publix

  “The irresponsible suggestion that there was a connection between campaign contributions made to Governor DeSantis and our willingness to join other pharmacies in support of the state’s vaccine distribution efforts is absolutely false and offensive,” Publix said Monday.

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• Publix also issued a statement to criticize the assertion, but the supermarket chain did not mention “60 Minutes” by name.

• “The irresponsible suggestion that there was a connection between campaign contributions made to Governor DeSantis and our willingness to join other pharmacies in support of the state’s vaccine distribution efforts is absolutely false and offensive,” Publix said Monday.

Company response

• Clarification — Publix

  The company aimed to get out in front of the controversy by announcing the heiress is "not an employee" and is "neither involved in our business operations, nor does she represent the company in any way."

• Clarification — Publix

  Publix also described the Capitol attacks as a "national tragedy," before declining to comment further on Fancelli's reported donation to organizers with the help of right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

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• Southern grocery store chain Publix is on the defensive against boycott demands from shoppers who are angered that an heiress to the Florida-based business reportedly donated $300,000 to the January 6 rally in Washington, D.C. that occurred before the deadly Capitol riot.

• Calls to boycott the Publix have sprung up after the grocery chain's heiress, Julie Jenkins Fancelli, was reported of contributing money for the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the Capitol riot.

• The company aimed to get out in front of the controversy by announcing the heiress is "not an employee" and is "neither involved in our business operations, nor does she represent the company in any way."

Company response

• Recall — Fresh Express

  Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Fresh Express 11.5-ounce Southwest Chopped Kit.

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• Publix said the problem is that wheat, soy, cashews, and coconut might be in some of the salad kits, but aren't listed on the labels.

• The salads were sold this month in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

• That could cause allergic reactions that could be life-threatening for some people.

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• “Publix knew or should have known that [the coworker] was exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 prior to and/or soon after her arrival for work at the store, but failed to send her home or ensure that she did not present for work,” the lawsuit claims, according to the Times.

• The family of a Publix employee who died from coronavirus complications in April is suing the Lakeland, Florida-based grocery giant over allegations that his request to wear a mask was denied, and that its failure to keep workers safe led to the 70-year-old’s illness and death.

• Now, his family is suing the Florida grocer.

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• on Monday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the supermarket giant for allegedly prohibiting employees from wearing protective masks and gloves during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Calling the actions of the Publix supermarket chain before April 20 “shameful,” a Miami law firm Tuesday morning filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the supermarket giant for allegedly prohibiting employees from wearing protective masks and gloves during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The lawsuit, filed by Michael Levine and Dax Bello of Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, claims 70-year-old deli worker Gerardo Gutierrez died on April 28 after contracting the virus from a co-worker at a Publix in Miami Beach.

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• The lawsuit, filed Sunday in U.S. District Court in Miami, claims that the grocery giant violated protections against disability discrimination, hostile work environment and retaliation guaranteed by Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act and Florida’s Civil Rights Act.