E. coli warning Prompts Massive Frozen Pizza Recall

[Ouchyfish]

Breaking Health: E. coli warning Prompts Massive Frozen Pizza Recall

414,000 Cases Affected
Health Risk: High

Public health officials are urging consumers to throw away any Totino's or Jeno's brand frozen pizzas that contain pepperoni in the wake of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.

"We took action on that basis as a precaution, because of the possibility that a link might exist," said General Mills spokesman Tom Forsythe.

The company is asking people to throw away any pizza that they may have purchased that is being recalled.

The manufacturer, General Mills, has recalled all frozen pepperoni pizzas produced at their Wellston, Ohio, plant. More than 120 million of these pizzas have been distributed since the beginning of July.

Public health investigators in Tennessee and elsewhere have linked a growing number of people infected with E. coli O157:H7 to pizzas produced at the Ohio plant. The investigation is ongoing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies are working with General Mills to identify the source of the problem.

To date, at least 21 lab-confirmed cases have been identified in 10 states -- Tennessee, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota. At least 10 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

"If you have any of these pizzas in your freezer, we recommend you throw them out," said William E. Keene, Ph.D., M.P.H., senior communicable disease epidemiologist at the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division. "No cases have been reported in Oregon or other Western states, but this is a national recall. We don't want anyone to risk serious illness."

The specific products covered by the recall are as follows:

*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Pepperoni, 10.2 oz.
*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Classic Pepperoni, 10.2 oz.
*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Pepperoni Trio, 10.2 oz.
*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Three Meat Sausage, Canadian Style Bacon & Pepperoni, 10.5 oz.
*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Combination Sausage & Pepperoni, 10.7 oz.
*Totino's Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Supreme Sausage & Pepperoni with Green Peppers & Onions, 10.9 oz.
*Jeno's Crisp 'n Tasty Pizza, Pepperoni, 6.8 oz.
*Jeno's Crisp 'n Tasty Pizza, Combination Sausage and Pepperoni, 7.0 oz.
*Jeno's Crisp 'n Tasty Pizza, Supreme Sausage and Pepperoni With Green Peppers and Onion, 7.2 oz.



Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O157:H7 is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

Consumers can contact Totino's / Jeno's for product replacement by clipping the UPC (bar code) symbol from each pizza box and sending their UPC's, along with their name and address to:

Totino's / Jeno's
P.O. Box 200 - Pizza
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0200

The product itself should be thrown away. Consumers with additional questions about the relall should contact the company at (800) 949-9055

[araby]

the recall of food is frightening as of late. I'm truly freaked out. Feels like the Tim Burton Batman when the Joker puts the chemicals in everything.

[Kramer]

thanks for the post, usually stay away from totino's now that i don't have to buy super-cheap pizza, but good to know.

[Hatak]

Seems like there's been way more recalls this year than normal. Canned pet food, stuff that has the lead-based paint in it, a couple of weeks ago they recalled Banquet pot pies, these Totino's/Jeno's frozen pizzas, etc.... It's insane.

[Martrae]

They recalled a bunch of fake Halloween teeth yesterday, too. Lead content thru the roof on them.

[Harrison]

I've been eating these

[araby]

I haven't had any in a while because I'm not broke...but I have eaten Totinos! Many times! they cook perfectly on those pizza baking ovens with the turntable.

[Naethyn]

We eat a DiGiorno Ultimate and a Freschetta Brick Oven. both cooked on an oven brick once a week. Usually on Monday. Soccer night and I don't want to cook.

ps. oven bricks do wonders for pizza.

pps. totinos is gross.

[Tossica]

Haha.

Jeno's/Totinos is a Duluth, MN based company. Jeno Palucci was kingpin up there for many years.

I don't eat the pizzas but have been known to eat a bag of pizza rolls here and there.

[Kramer]

i can eat pizza rolls in the same manner that i can eat the mini reese's peanut butter cups.... endlessly

[Tikker]

I love pizza

but not frozen pizza, those just seem unnatural to me

[Gypsiyee]

good gravy I can tear up some totinos, Im a frozen pizza freak and my favorite is always the cheap stuff.

i haven't had it in ages though, its not really good for you :p

[Kramer]

yeah, i hate frozen pizza too... pizza rolls are a different story.

but a real gourmet pizza is the best thing ever.

this is the place in Houston to get the greatest pizza - STAR PIZZA




and a pitcher St. Arnold's Lawnmower Ale to go with it is heaven

[Yamori]

Guess who lives in illinois and just ate an entire frozen pepperoni pizza today? THE ANSWER IS ME