Citing a raised risk of E. coli O157:H7 contamination of 414,000 cases of pizza products with pepperoni toppings, manufacturer General Mills has announced a voluntary recall of those pizzas. Since these pizzas are freezable products, the company is asking consumers to check their freezers. The pizzas were produced in General Mills' Ohio factory and distributed throughout the USA.
Click here for a list of the products affected by the recall.
E. coli is short for Escherichia coli, and is one of the bacteria that line the gut of humans and animals. It also exists in raw and undercooked beef, infected water and milk. Most E. coli strains are harmless. However, O157:H7 can cause food poisoning. A sample of a person's feces (stool) must be tested to confirm E.coli poisoning.
Symptons of E. coli poisoning include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain, and fever. Symptoms usually appear about 1-3 days after infection.
