A nationwide recall of several Pillsbury Pizza Pops products has been expanded in Canada after health officials linked the frozen snacks to an outbreak of E. coli O26. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says additional products have been added to the recall while investigators continue tracing the source of reported illnesses across multiple provinces. Consumers are being urged to check their freezers immediately because contaminated products may look and smell completely normal.
The recalled Pizza Pops are produced by General Mills Canada and were sold through major grocery retailers nationwide. Although no deaths have been reported, several people have been hospitalized, prompting public health officials to stress that anyone with recalled products should not consume them.
Ontario and Atlantic Canada report the highest number of illnesses
According to public health officials, Ontario has recorded many of the confirmed cases, including illnesses reported in Toronto, Peel Region and surrounding communities. Additional cases have been identified in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, leading provincial health authorities to issue local reminders for consumers to review products stored in home freezers.
Because Pizza Pops are distributed across Canada and often remain frozen for weeks or months before being eaten, officials recommend checking all recently purchased packages regardless of where they were bought.
Why the recall has been expanded
The expanded recall is connected to a possible contamination with E. coli O26, a harmful strain of bacteria that can cause serious gastrointestinal illness. Unlike spoiled food, contaminated frozen products usually show no visible warning signs, making it impossible to identify affected packages simply by looking at them.
Health officials say recalls often grow larger during investigations as laboratory testing and supply-chain tracing identify additional production lots that may have been exposed to the same contamination source.
Pizza Pops products included in the recall
The CFIA’s expanded recall includes several well-known Pizza Pops varieties sold across Canada:
- 3 Cheese
- Pepperoni
- Pepperoni and Bacon
- Supremo Extreme Pepperoni and Bacon
- 3 Meat
- Deluxe
Both regular multipacks and family-size boxes are affected. Many recalled products carry “Best If Used By” dates during June 2026, although consumers should confirm affected UPC codes and dates using the official CFIA recall notice before disposing of any products.
Symptoms of E. coli infection
People who consumed recalled Pizza Pops may develop severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may become bloody, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms can begin several days after eating contaminated food and, in some cases, may not appear for more than a week.
Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of developing serious complications, including kidney damage. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately and inform healthcare providers about possible exposure to recalled food.
What consumers should do
The CFIA advises Canadians to carefully inspect freezer inventories and avoid eating any recalled Pizza Pops products. Consumers should either return affected products to the retailer where they were purchased or dispose of them safely.
Kitchen counters, storage containers and utensils that may have come into contact with the recalled products should also be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to reduce the possibility of cross-contamination.
Consumers can verify affected products through the official Canadian Food Inspection Agency food recall database, which is updated whenever new information becomes available.
Why this recall matters
Frozen convenience foods are commonly stored for long periods, meaning recalled products can remain in household freezers long after purchase. Food safety experts say expanded recalls are precautionary measures designed to remove potentially affected products before more illnesses occur.
Recent food safety incidents have highlighted the importance of checking recall notices regularly, particularly for frozen products that may not be consumed immediately. Similar nationwide food safety alerts involving packaged foods have reinforced the need to monitor official updates and follow disposal advice when recalls are announced.
For more information on recent product safety alerts affecting consumers, see our coverage of the latest consumer product safety warnings.
Investigation continues
The CFIA says the investigation remains active and additional products could be added if new evidence identifies further risks. Officials continue to work with provincial public health agencies and General Mills while monitoring new reports of illness across Canada.
Consumers are encouraged to monitor official recall announcements in the coming days, as updated product lists and investigation findings may continue to evolve while the outbreak response remains underway.
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