Totino's and Jeno's frozen pizzas recalled
Frozen meat pizzas are at the centre of a Caribbean-wide product recall after a health scare in the USA.
It is feared the Totino's and Jenos goods in question may be linked to cases of E. Coli O157: H7 across several states.
E. coli O157: H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhoea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and those with weak immune systems are most susceptible to food-borne illness.
All the patients who came down with the bug between July and October have recovered, but the recall was issued yesterday because the pizzas have been exported to Bermuda, St. Maarten, Curacao, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
The products in question are:
10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza Pepperoni."
10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Classic Pepperoni."
10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Pepperoni Trio."
10.7-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Combination Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza."
10.5-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Three Meat Sausage, Canadian Style Bacon & Pepperoni Pizza."
10.9-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Supreme Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza with Green Peppers & Onions."
6.8-ounce packages of "Jenos Crisp 'n Tasty Pizza, Pepperoni"
7.0-ounce packages of "Jenos Crisp 'n Tasty pizza, Combination Sausage and Pepperoni"
7.2-ounce packages of "Jenos Crisp 'n Tasty pizza, Sausage and Pepperoni with Green peppers and Onions."
Each package 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.
It was unclear yesterday which stores in Bermuda stock the pizzas, and whether any cases of illness have been reported.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Consumer Hotline at (800) 949-9055.