News

25,000+ pounds pepperoni, sausage pizza toppings recalled for possible listeria

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November 12, 2019

Concerns of possible listeria contamination in Indiana and Ohio-distributed pepperoni and sausage pizza toppings have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to announce that Columbus, Ohio-based, Ezzo Sausage Company, has recalled more than 25,000 pounds of meat toppings, a news release said. 

The company told the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service that meat toppings produced there on Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Nov. 5 may contain Listeria monocytogenes. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 1838A" inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to distribution centers in Indiana and Ohio.

The problem was discovered when the firm told authorities about a positive sample result for the sometimes deadly bacterial infection, but there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to consumption of the products. 

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, those with weakened immune systems, as well as pregnant women and their newborns. The illness can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. It can cause birth complications and miscarriages in pregnant women and can be fatal in older individuals and those with challenged immunity. 

The USDA advised those with in the higher risk categories who have flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food to seek medical care and tell the medical provider they ate possibly contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in distribution centers, restaurants, or institutional refrigerators or freezers. Restaurants and institutions that have purchased these products are urged not to serve them, but instead throw them away or take them back to the purchase point. 

This was a Class I alert, indicating a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.