Contaminated Pizza

Because of possible E. coli contamination General Mills recalled about five million frozen pizzas sold under the Totino’s and Jeno’s labels. The problem may have come from pepperoni on pizzas produced at a General Mills plant in Ohio. The recall affects about 414,000 cases of pizza products currently in stores and similar pizza products in consumer freezers. Each case contains 12 pizzas. The possible E. coli contamination was uncovered by state and federal authorities investigating 21 E. coli-related illnesses in 10 states. General Mills said nine of the 21 people who reported having eaten Jeno's or Totino's pizza with pepperoni topping at some point before becoming ill. The people were effected by the pizza and became ill between July 20 and October 10, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said, also saying that all the patients recovered. The recall includes eight different types of Totino's brand frozen pizza and only three types of Jeno's brand frozen pizza all with pepperoni toppings, or a combination of toppings with pepperoni. The frozen pizzas were produced in the Wellston, Ohio, plant and sent throughout the United States. The plant is now currently making other pizzas, but none with pepperoni.

E.coli O157:H7 is a deadly bacteria that can cause bloody dehydration and diarrhea. The children, seniors and people with weak immune systems are the most vulnerable to food borne diseases. E.coli was first discovered in 1982 in the United States when 47 people were said to have developed severe stomach disorders. The cause of this was traced to ground beef patties that were contaminated with the variety of E.coli. Because E.coli can be caught from eating undercooked contaminated ground beef, it has been called the hamburger disease.