Frozen pizzas pose E. coli health risk
E.coli is a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. E. coli is short for the medical term Escherichia coli.
It normally lives inside the intestines, where it helps the body break down and digest the food. Unfortunately, certain types known as strains of E. coli can get from the intestines into the blood.
This is a rare illness, but it can cause a very serious infection. Just last week millions of frozen pizzas were recalled under the bran of Totino’s and Jeno’s for being infected with E. coli.
The problem is believed to come from General Mills plant in Ohio. Nine of the 21 people reported eating Totino’s or Jeno’s pizza with pepperoni topping at some point before becoming ill. Cases were reported in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota.
The pizzas infected are believed to only include the Totino’s and Jeno’s brand pizzas now in stores, but not ones that could still be in consumers’ freezers from several weeks back.
“I don’t trust that it’s just the ones in stores”. said Marissa Montebello 22, business. “I threw all mine away, I had like five. Its all we eat at home”.
About 120 million frozen pizzas were sold nationwide since July 1 by the Golden Valley Company. Of that number, an estimated 60 percent included pepperoni.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) statement, from mid July to mid October, an investigation led by the Tennessee Department of Health found 21 people in 10 states, fell ill with E. coli.
It was informed by the CDC that at least eight people were hospitalized with the food born illness, which can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps lasting a few days on average. Four of the victims have developed kidney failure, according to CDC.
General Mills Continues to fully cooperate and is fully involved in the investigations being held.