Frozen pizza product recalled in 21 states over possible presence of metal fragments
More than 6,400 cases of frozen pizza products have been recalled because they may contain metal fragments.
Rich Products Corp recalled its Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers — which combine a mozzarella stick with marinara sauce — in May.
On June 9, the FDA elevated the recall to a Class II, which means that eating or using the items can pose a serious health risk, according to the agency.
The frozen appetizers can be identified by the Lot/Unit Number 003029976, UPC Code 041322652256 and Best By Date of July 30, 2027.
Affected pizza crunchers were distributed in 21 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
The bite-sized snack isn’t the only pizza product that’s been recalled in recent months. Last week, certain batches of Champion Foods LLC’s Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread were recalled due to contamination with salmonella, which causes food poisoning.
According to the FDA, the product contained a dry milk powder that California Dairies, Inc. recalled in April due to potential salmonella contamination. Affected Cheese Bread lots were sold nationwide at many major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco and Publix.
Although there weren’t any illnesses reported, Champion Foods LLC said it was issuing the recall “out of an abundance of caution for the safety of [its] customers.”
In May, several varieties of frozen pizzas with the dry milk powder were recalled, including Mama Cozzi’s Biscuit Crust Sausage & Cheese Breakfast Pizza and another called Biscuit Crust Cooked Pork Belly Crumbles, Cooked Bacon Topping, Pepper & Onion Breakfast Pizza. They were both sold at Aldi stores nationwide.
The recall also included three Great Value frozen pizzas: Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch, Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch and Stuffed Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch — all sold at Walmart stores across the country.
In addition, Culinary Circle’s Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch frozen pizza and Pork King’s Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds and Party Size Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds have been recalled.
People with salmonella infections can develop symptoms within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, according to the FDA. Symptoms — which last from four to seven days and usually go away without treatment — can include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. However, salmonella can “cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA notes.
