This Wednesday, the Colorado Department of Public Health announced the Totino’s and Jeno’s brand frozen pizzas recall from the market due to a possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The products’ manufacturer, General Mills Operations, of Wellston, Ohio voluntarily recalled its frozen meat pizzas that were previously distributed at retail outlets across the country, including in Albertsons and Safeway stores in Colorado.

Michelle Motsinger, a program manager with the department’s consumer protection division, advises consumers to check their “refrigerators or freezers for any of the products and either discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.”

E. coli O157:H7 manifests typical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and cramping abdominal pain that start 24 hours after eating something contaminated. In some severe cases E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and can be potentially deadly. Usually youngsters, older people and the ones with weakened immunity system are more at risk. Most people, if contaminated, confront themselves with mild cases and are ill for about a week, taking them 5-10 days for the illness to run its natural course.

The possible E. coli contamination of General Mills’ pizzas was discovered by the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for disease Control and Prevention in an investigation of a multi state cluster of E. coli O157:H7 contamination in the period of July 20 and October 10. The investigation is still ongoing and up to now, all patients have recovered.

Consummers are advised to wash their hands after contact with frozen packages and cook the frozen food thoroughly.