A significant E.coli outbreak linked to popular frozen snacks has led to multiple hospitalisations and a nationwide product recall in Canada. Health officials have confirmed that contaminated Pillsbury Pizza Pops are the suspected source of the illness.
Details of the Outbreak and Product Recall
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported this week that 20 people have been sickened and four have required hospital treatment. Those affected range from a one-year-old child to an 87-year-old adult, with cases spread across five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
In response, a voluntary recall was announced over the weekend targeting specific Pillsbury Pizza Pops products. The affected items include:
- Pillsbury Pizza Pops pepperoni and bacon snacks in 760g and 2.85kg packages with best-before dates of June 9 and 10, 2026.
- Pizza Pops Supremo Extreme pepperoni and bacon snacks in 3kg boxes with best-before dates of June 10 and 12, 2026.
- Pizza Pops Frank's RedHot pepperoni and bacon in 380g packages with a best-before date of June 14, 2026.
The CFIA warns the products may be contaminated with E.coli O26, a dangerous strain of the bacteria known to cause severe gastrointestinal distress and potential kidney damage.
Health Risks and Public Advice
Infection with E.coli O26 can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and watery or bloody diarrhoea. In severe cases, it can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that causes kidney failure.
Canadian health authorities are urging the public not to consume, serve, or sell the recalled products. Consumers should either throw the items away or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. General Mills, the parent company of Pillsbury, has stated this is a voluntary recall and that other Pillsbury Pizza Pops varieties are not implicated.
It is important to note that, as of now, this recall has not been issued in the United States, and no related illnesses have been reported among American consumers.
Separate Listeria Recall in the US
In a separate food safety incident this month in the United States, Boss Dairy Farms recalled one lot of its Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese due to potential listeria contamination. The recalled block cheese, with UPC 850056642057, lot number 13220025, and a best-by date of October 20, 2026, was identified through routine company testing.
While healthy individuals may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms from listeria, it poses a grave risk to pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening illness. The US Food and Drug Administration advises consumers who purchased the cheese to destroy it or seek a refund from the store.
These concurrent incidents in North America underscore the critical importance of rigorous food safety protocols and prompt public communication during product recalls to protect consumer health.
