Totino’s and Jeno’s announced a voluntary recall of frozen pizzas with pepperoni toppings because of possible contamination of the topping with E coli O157:H7.
The recall affects about 414,000 cases of pizza products currently in stores and all similar pizza products in consumers’ freezers. It includes eight SKUs (stock-keeping units or UPC codes) of Totino’s brand frozen pizza and three SKUs of Jeno’s brand frozen pizza with pepperoni topping, or incorporating pepperoni in combination with other toppings.
The frozen pizza products were produced in the company’s Wellston OH plant and distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
The potential problem was uncovered by state and federal authorities investigating 21 occurrences of E coli-related illnesses in 10 states. About half of the individuals who became ill were hospitalized as a result.
Totino’s and Jeno’s, working in cooperation with federal and state food safety authorities, launched an investigation immediately upon learning of the potential problem.
General Mills, the parent company of Totino’s and Jeno’s, initiated a voluntary Class I recall as a precaution. The investigation is ongoing. Consumers with questions about the recall should phone the company at (800) 949-9055.
