American food company General Mills recalled approximately five million frozen pizzas from the market on Thursday due to possible contamination with the bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli), after 21 customers were diagnosed with this bacterial infection.
The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that eight infected individuals were hospitalized, and four experienced kidney failure, CNN reported.
Eight cases were reported in Tennessee, while others occurred in the states of Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Symptoms of E.coli infection include stomach cramps and diarrhea lasting two to five days, but complications such as kidney failure are also possible.
General Mills from Minneapolis has promised full cooperation in the investigation, urged customers to dispose of pizzas purchased under the brands Totino’s and Jeno’s, and promised them compensation. According to General Mills, the problem likely lies with the pizza containing ‘pepperoni’ sausages from another manufacturer, whose name has not been disclosed until the source of the contamination is confirmed.
Recalls of food contaminated with E.coli in the USA are quite frequent, occurring almost every month during 2007, most often involving contaminated spinach, lettuce, or meat products. For instance, in September, Topps Meat Co. from New Jersey recalled 10,000 tons of frozen hamburgers after 40 people were infected with E.coli in eight states. A few days later, Topps Meat Co. ceased operations. (Hina)
