Pizzas Recalled Due to Possible E. coli

General Mills Operations, Wellston, OH, is voluntarily recalling approximately 3.3 million pounds of frozen meat pizza products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and may be linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced. The following products are subject to recall (view labels):

10.2-oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza Pepperoni;
10.2- oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Classic Pepperoni;
10.2- oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Pepperoni Trio;
10.7- oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Combination Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza;
10.5- oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Three Meat Sausage, Canadian Style Bacon & Pepperoni Pizza;
10.9- oz. packages of Totinos The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Supreme Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza with Green Peppers & Onions;
6.8- oz. packages of Jenos Crisp N Tasty Pizza, Pepperoni;
7.0- oz. packages of Jenos Crisp N Tasty Pizza, Combination Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza;
7.2- oz. packages of Jenos Crisp N Tasty Pizza, Supreme Sausage And Pepperoni With Green Peppers And Onion Pizza.

Each package also bears the establishment number EST. 7750 inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a best if used by date on or before 02 APR 08 WS. The company applies the best if used by date on the package based on a 155-day shelf life, however consumers are urged to look in their freezers for similar frozen pizza products and discard them if found.

The frozen meat pizza products subject to recall were produced on or before Oct. 30 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

The problem was discovered following an investigation carried out by the Tennessee Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into a multi-state cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that may be linked to this product. Illnesses occurred in Illinois (1), Kentucky (3), Missouri (2), New York (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (8), Virginia (1) and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged between July 20 and Oct. 10. All patients have recovered. The CDC, State public health departments and FSIS also continue investigation into the multi-state illness outbreak.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Consumer Hotline at 800/949-9055. Media with questions about the recall should contact company Director of Communications Tom Forsythe at 763/764-6364.