The pizza recall may have a local Nebraska tie according to Channel 3 news – Frozen Pizza Recall May Have Local Connection – The University of Nebraska Medical Center confirms it tested a sample from the Douglas County Health Department. A spokesperson says it matches the strain of E. coli identified in a recent national outbreak. General Mills recalled about 5 million Totino’s and Jeno’s brand pizzas earlier this month due to E. coli contamination. At least 21 people have been confirmed ill according to the CDC.
As of November 1st, at least 21 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 with an indistinguishable genetic fingerprint have been collected from ill persons in 10 states: Illinois (1 person), Kentucky (3), Missouri (2), New York (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (8), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1). Persons became ill between July 20, 2007, and October 10, 2007. The age of ill persons ranges from 1 to 65 years with a median age of 9; 53% of ill persons are female. At least 8 people have been hospitalized, and 4 have developed a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS.
For those who have read about the use of "cooked" E. coli products, I wonder if there is a connection between that loophole and these pizzas? According to the Des Moines Register, the Iowa Department of Health continues to investigate possible pizza-related E. coli illnesses and the tragic death of Kayla Boner.