11 | 1 | 2007 Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen

21 Cases of E. coli May Be Linked to Jeno's and Totino's Pizzas

totinos-pizza-recall.jpg21 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 may be linked to Jeno’s and Totino’s pizzas, General Mills products. The cases 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). According to the CDC at least 8 people were hospitalized, and 4 of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  The earliest case reported to state authorities occurred on July 20, and the latest case reported occurred on Oct. 10.  Nine of the 21 people reported having eaten Totino’s or Jeno’s pizza with pepperoni topping at some point prior to becoming ill. 

In response to these illnesses, General Mills has recalled the following Jeno’s and Totino’s pizzas, all of which were made in the company’s Wellston, Ohio plant:

  • 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 of pizza 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."

According to General Mills, since July 1 of this year, Totino’s and Jeno’s have distributed more than 120 million pizzas nationwide. The 414,000 cases of frozen meat pizza products subject to this recall were produced on or before Oct. 30 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.


Pritzker | Ruohonen is a national food safety law firm. The firm represents victims of E. coli and the families of victims who have died. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.