Thousands of chicken and bacon pizzas and snack items are being recalled across the United States due to a potentially fatal bacterial contamination. Health officials issued the alert on Friday for seven products sold at Walmart, Aldi, and other local stores nationwide, including pork rinds and breakfast pizzas.
Contamination Source
The products were made with dry milk powder that had already been recalled over a salmonella contamination, raising concerns that the items are now also contaminated. The foods have been sold under brands including Great Value and Mama Cozzi's, with sell-by dates extending up to November this year.
Health Risks
People infected with salmonella may experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within six hours to six days of infection. While healthy adults typically recover within a week, vulnerable individuals—such as infants and the elderly—can be hospitalized due to severe diarrhea and may develop potentially fatal dehydration without treatment.
No illnesses have been reported to date, but officials are urging caution. Anyone who has purchased the products is advised not to consume them and to throw them out immediately. Alternatively, consumers can return the items to stores for a full refund.
Products in Recall
- Walmart: Great Value Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza and Great Value Stuffed Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.
- Aldi: Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Pizza and Mama Cozzi's Biscuit Crust Cooked Pork Belly Crumbles, Cooked Bacon Topping, Pepper and Onion Breakfast Pizza.
- Pork King Good: Sour Cream and Onion Pork Rinds and Party Size Sour Cream and Onion Pork Rinds.
- Culinary Circle: Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.
Full lot numbers of the affected products are available on the FDA's website. Health officials at the Food Safety and Inspection Service, who issued the recall, expect to add more products to the list.
Business and Consumer Guidance
Businesses and restaurants that may have purchased the products are also instructed to discard them or return them to sellers for a full refund. Anyone with food safety questions or who believes they have experienced symptoms is urged to contact their local health provider.
Salmonella infections are diagnosed through lab tests of stool samples and treated with antibiotics. The CDC estimates that salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the US each year.
