Archive for November 1st, 2007
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today that Generals Mills has issued a recall of approximately 3.3 million pounds of frozen meat pizza products, due to the possibility of E. coli O157:H7 contamination. According to FSIS, the frozen pizza subject to the recall may be linked to an E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning outbreak.
The following recall information is posted on the USDA website:
The following pizza products are subject to recall:
- 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 “JENO’S CRISP `N TASTY PIZZA, PEPPERONI.”
- 7.0-ounce packages of “JENO’S CRISP `N TASTY PIZZA, COMBINATION SAUSAGE AND PEPPERONI PIZZA.”
- 7.2-ounce packages of “JENO’S 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” to the package based on a 155-day shelf life, but 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 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 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 from July 20 to Oct. 10. All patients have recovered.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and dehydration. The young, seniors, and the immuno-compromised are the most susceptible to complications arising from E. coli food poisoning. To learn more about E. coli food poisoning, please see About E. coli and Symptoms of E. coli Food Poisoning.
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks throughout the country. If you or a loved one has been harmed by E. coli food poisoning, and you have a question regarding your legal rights, please see Free Case Evaluation, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Please see Food and Drug Recall Lawyer to learn more about our law firm.
To learn more about recent food poisoning and food recall news, please see E. coli Recall, Hamburger Recall, and Pot Pie Recall.
November 1st, 2007
New Jersey state investigators have found 138 boxes of Topps recalled frozen hamburger patties on store shelves more than a month after the recall became public. Seven stores in Hudson County were selling the recalled products.
After consumer safety inspectors bought 19 boxes of recalled beef in Union City last Wednesday, an investigation was launched throughout Hudson County. Inspectors made trips to 197 retail stores.
“The public’s health is clearly endangered by having these recalled products available for purchase and consumption,” said Attorney General Anne Milgram. “We want to know what other stores may have purchased these products from the distributor and immediately inspect those stores.”
In a related story, last week the Davis County (Utah) Health Department found ConAgra frozen pot pies, also subject to recall, still on shelves at seven county grocery stores. The pot pies had been recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. See ConAgra Recall and Pot Pie Recall.
Consumers are urged to check their freezers for any recalled pot pies or hamburger patties.
The Topps recall, the second largest beef recall in the nation’s history, was issued on September 29 after E. coli O157:H7 was discovered in the company’s frozen hamburger patties. A week later, Topps closed down its operations. A total of 40 people in eight states suffered food poisoning from eating recalled products. The investigation into the source of the E. coli contamination is ongoing.
For more information about E. coli food poisoning, see About E. coli and E. coli Symptoms and Complications.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by E. coli food poisoning related to Topps frozen hamburgers or any other source, and you have a question about your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274 for a free case evaluation, or click on Free Case Evaluation to submit your questions.
For more information about the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg, which sponsors this and other sites providing information about food poisoning, please see E. coli Lawyer.
For more information about the Topps hamburger recall, please see Topps Recall of 21.7 Million Pounds of Ground Beef, Food Poisoning Illnesses Linked to E. coli in Topps Ground Beef, Recall of Hamburger Patties Leads to Topps Closing, and Canadian Beef Link to Topps Recall.
November 1st, 2007
In the past few days, there have been reports that a California toddler, an Indiana student and three Iowa children have tested positive for E. coli. The toddler was hospitalized for a week. Investigations are ongoing into the sources of the children’s infections.
This recent spate of news articles about children suffering from E. coli food poisoning and, in some cases, requiring hospitalization raises the question: Is it possible to protect children from E. coli infection?
While the answer must include the caveat that even round-the-clock diligence can’t provide 100% protection, there are ways to minimize risk.
Because E. coli bacteria can spread as a result of poor hygiene, health professionals agree that the best way to protect against infection is hand washing. Parents and adults who care for children should not only remember to wash their own hands with soap and water, but should teach children to do the same. Adults should frequently remind children about hand-washing.
In addition, since E. coli food poisoning can result from eating contaminated beef, hamburgers and other ground beef products should be cooked through, to a temperature of 160 degrees F at the thickest part. Fruits and vegetables, which also may become contaminated with E. coli bacteria, should be washed thoroughly.
For more information about preventing E. coli infection and food safety in general, please see About E. coli on this website, and Food Safety and Food Safety Tips on the website www.foodpoisoning.com.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of E. coli food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call the Law Firm of Eric Weinberg toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or submit a Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our personal injury law firm, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer.
For recent food poisoning and food recall news please see Banquet Salmonella Recall, Pot Pie Recall, Topps Recall, and Hamburger Recall.
November 1st, 2007