Frequently Asked Questions About Totino's & Jeno's Voluntary Pizza Recall

We initiated this recall as a precaution – not because we had found any evidence of E. coli in our facility or our products. 

We learned of the potential problem from state and federal public health authorities investigating 21 occurrences of E. coli-related illnesses in 10 states. Nine of the 21 individuals reported having eaten Totino’s or Jeno’s pizza with pepperoni topping at some point prior to becoming ill.

Totino’s and Jeno’s, in cooperation with federal and state food safety authorities, launched an immediate investigation. 

As a precaution, and in the interest of consumer safety, General Mills, the parent company of Totino’s and Jeno’s, initiated a voluntary Class I recall.  However, to date, we have found no presence of E. coli in our facility, or in any Totino’s or Jeno’s product.  The company continues to cooperate fully with all involved state and federal authorities, and our investigation is ongoing.

Totino’s and Jeno’s announced a voluntary recall of frozen pizzas with pepperoni toppings on Nov. 1, 2007.  The recall was initiated voluntarily by the company because of the possibility of E. coli contamination of pizzas with pepperoni, though, to date, the company has found no evidence of E. coli contamination in its plant and no evidence of E. coli in any of its products, including pepperoni pizza toppings.

The company recalled all of its Jeno’s and Totino’s brand pizzas with pepperoni toppings, or with pepperoni toppings in combination with other toppings, such as Combo, Supreme, 3 Meat, Classic Pepperoni, Pepperoni trio.

No. Other Totino's and Jeno's pizza products are not included in this recall. Cheese pizza or sausage pizza, for example, are not involved. Only varieties of Totino's and Jeno's pizzas with pepperoni toppings are included in this recall. Other products are not involved.

We have already begun producing new shipments.  You will see Totino’s and Jeno’s pepperoni pizza varieties again on store shelves the week of November 26. We want you to know that every pizza you find in your grocer's freezer is Quality Assured.

No.  Totino’s Pizza Rolls are not involved in this recall.

Our Pizza Rolls products are manufactured under a different process and on different production lines than our Totino’s & Jeno’s Pizzas.  There are also no reported incidents of people getting sick from our pizza rolls.

General Mills has a long history as a leader in the food industry with regard to safety and integrity of food products. The key elements of our safety and quality programs for raw materials procurement and product processing are as follows:

• All products are produced under a prevention-based food safety system called Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, or HACCP.
• Each facility has implemented a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program, consistent with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 110. 
• We have an extensive approval process for suppliers, who must meet our quality and safety standards and pass General Mills' review of their safety and quality programs. 
• All facilities have a well-defined lot identification and traceability system enabling General Mills to effectively locate, contain, and if necessary, recover nonconforming raw materials and finished product. 
• General Mills requires that each manufacturing facility follow a systematic and documented quality management system.

You should not eat any recalled Totino's or Jeno's brand frozen pizza that contains pepperoni as a topping at this time. Please clip and return via mail the UPC (bar code) from the package and throw away the pizza.  We will replace your product when you send us the UPC symbol from each box, along with your name and address to: 

Totino's / Jeno’s
P.O. Box 200 – Pizza
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0200

We will send you a replacement coupon for every valid UPC we receive. If you have additional questions about the recall, please contact us via www.GeneralMills.com, by clicking on “Contact Us,” or call us at (800) 949-9055.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.  Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after infection. Usually little or no fever is present.  Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. Most people recover completely within 5-10 days, although some people, particularly young children and the elderly, are at increased risk for severe illness.

No.  We have never had any similar incident or recall involving E. coli.

If you have no symptoms or illness, there is no reason to be alarmed.  Anyone who has eaten the product but did not become ill need not take any special action.
                       
If you become ill with diarrhea within a week, you should seek medical care.  If you’re diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O157:H7, you should also contact state and local public health authorities.

Yes.  Properly baking the pizza as detailed in the instructions printed on the package – specifically preheating the oven and baking the pizza in an oven at the specified temperature for the recommended time – will also inactivate E. Coli.  Baking the pizza in the oven as specified is the proper and safe method of preparing this product.  In addition, pepperoni toppings undergo two separate steps during processing by our supplier which have also been proven effective at inactivating E. coli bacteria if present.  But to answer your question, properly baking the pizza at the recommended temperature for the recommended time is an additional effective step that consumers can and should take to further protect against E. Coli.

No. Pizzas are not designed to be microwaved. Because of the uneven heating in a microwave, you can never be certain of a thorough cook which can compromise the safety of the product.

Media Release - November 1, 2007