25,000 Pounds of Ezzo Pizza Toppings Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

Ezzo Sausage Co. has initiated a pizza toppings recall reportedly affecting 25,000 pounds of their sausage and pepperoni products.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the pizza toppings recall affects Ezzo’s ready-to-eat sausage products produced on Oct. 29 and 30 and Nov. 5 of this year.

Ezzo reportedly notified the USDA after receiving lab results that included a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes.

The USDA states that it “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. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Listeria monocytogenes is bacteria that can cause listeriosis in people who consume contaminated food. The most vulnerable are the sick, elderly, pregnant women, and newborns, according to the USDA, and the infection can be quite serious. Those who contract listeriosis can suffer from fever, aches and pains, headache, confusion, loss of balance, diarrhea, and other stomach problems.

Pregnant women need to take special precautions, according to the USDA, because the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirth, premature labor, and infect the newborn. The elderly and those with compromised immune systems also need to be aware because listeriosis can progress into a life-threatening condition. According to the USDA, listereriosis is treated with antibiotics.

USA Today reports that 25,115 pounds of sausage products were affected by the pizza topping recall.

“EST. 1838 A” is the establishment number included on the inside of the USDA mark of inspection on the Ezzo Sausage Co. pizza toppings affected by the recall. The company reportedly sent products affected by the pizza topping recall to distribution centers in Indiana and Ohio.

According to a local ABC New affiliate in Chicago, no illnesses associated with the pizza topping recall have been reported.

Fox News reports that the following brands of sausage are affected by the pizza topping recall: Ange’s Pizza, Ezzo Brand, Linarco Distributing Co. Chopped Pepperoni, Creno’s Pizza, Ezzo Brand Chopped Pepperoni, Ezzo Brand natural Uncured Pepperoni, Flyers Sliced Pepperoni, GiAntonio Brand Pepperoni, GiAntonio Brand Sausage for Pizza, Joseppi’s Sliced Topper Pepperoni, Massy’s Portofino Pepperoni, Pizza King Chopped Pepperoni, and Ezzo Brand Rough Chopped Pepperoni.

Consumers with questions about the pizza topping recall can contract a representative of Ezzo Sausage Co. at (614) 445-8841.

The USDA notes that it “routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers,” in its statement announcing the Ezzo pizza topping recall.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the USDA at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or send their questions by email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

Have you been affected by the pizza topping recall? Tell us more in the comments below!

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