5 million frozen pizzas recalled over E. coli fears

MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills on Thursday recalled about 5 million frozen pizzas sold nationwide under the Totino's and Jeno's labels because of possible E. coli contamination.

The problem may have come from pepperoni on pizzas produced at a General Mills plant in Ohio, the suburban Minneapolis-based company said. It said the pepperoni itself came from a separate supplier, and was not produced at the plant itself.

The voluntary recall covers pizzas containing pepperoni that have been produced since July, when the first of 21 E. coli illnesses under investigation by state and federal authorities emerged.

Nine of the 21 people reported eating Totino's or Jeno's pizza with pepperoni topping before becoming ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said eight people have been hospitalized, and four have developed kidney failure.

The company asks consumers to throw away recalled pizzas.

A list of the recalled products can be found on the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov.