Motor City Pizza Co. Five-Cheese Bread products are being recalled from freezers nationwide due to the discovery of a salmonella contamination source.
Frozen bread has a long shelf life, meaning some shoppers could have frozen bread packages at home until 2027.
What's happening?
Champion Foods LLC, based in New Boston, Michigan, has recalled some lots of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread after learning that an ingredient in the five-cheese sauce may be linked to a larger recall of milk powder, Food Safety News reports.
The problem began with a recall by California Dairies Inc. of powdered milk linked to possible salmonella contamination.
The recalled milk powder was shipped to a third-party manufacturer that makes a seasoning blend used in the five-cheese sauce.
Pre-production testing by the seasoning manufacturer showed that no salmonella was found in these batches of seasoning.
However, the company decided to recall the products out of an abundance of caution. It stated that neither Champion Foods nor its suppliers have received any reports of illnesses or injuries related to these products.
The bread was distributed nationwide and sold in retail chains such as Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, Meijer and others.
The recalled products include Five Cheese Bread in single-pack (UPC 8 70375 00511 1) and two-pack (UPC 8 70375 00509 8).
Why is this important?
According to Food Safety News, salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain approximately 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. Infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness and may require hospitalization.
Frozen packaged foods can sit unnoticed in home freezers for months or even years. Food purchased during a routine grocery trip may not be consumed immediately, increasing the likelihood that people will miss important food safety warnings.
As Food Safety News warned, "food contaminated with salmonella bacteria typically does not look, smell, or taste off.".
What can I do?
If you have Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread in your freezer, check the front of the package; the expiration date is printed in black on the image of the cheese bread. Before cooking or serving, compare the date and UPC code with the recalled products.
If your packaging is affected by the recall, do not consume it. Follow the retailer's or manufacturer's instructions for disposal or return of the product, and clean all surfaces or utensils that may have come into contact with the product.
Anyone who has consumed the recalled bread and subsequently develops symptoms should contact a doctor and report possible salmonella exposure, as specific testing may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
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