champion foods pizza recall: 5 Things You Need to Know About This Health Scare
- The recall affects specific lots of frozen pizza products, including cheese, pepperoni, and supreme varieties, due to potential contamination with *Listeria monocytogenes*, a harmful bacteria that can cause serious, sometimes fatal, infections.
- No illnesses have been confirmed yet, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged consumers to check their freezers immediately; Champion Foods has issued a voluntary recall as a precautionary measure after routine testing detected the pathogen at their manufacturing facility.
- Affected pizzas were distributed to major retailers nationwide, including Walmart and Kroger, under store brand names like Great Value and Private Selection, as well as Champion Foods' own label, making it crucial to look for specific UPC codes and "Best By" dates listed on the FDA's recall notice.
- Symptoms of listeriosis — the infection caused by Listeria — include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea; it poses the highest risk to pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to miscarriages or life-threatening complications.
- Consumers who purchased any of the recalled pizzas should not eat them, even if they look or smell fine; return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, or dispose of it safely, and thoroughly clean any surfaces or containers that came into contact with the pizza to prevent cross-contamination.