Bad Taste: Pizza, E. coli and a bland holding statement

by bgetch.

General Mills  issued a most tepid recall of about 5 million frozen pizzas sold nationwide under the Totino’s and Jeno’s labels because of possible E. coli contamination.   The tone was a mistake: as if this were the recall of the week.  Perhaps the attorneys have taken over already.

General Mills went with a holding statement from its spokesperson  — always somewhat unsatisfying — and a kiss-off  few will bother with: pizza replacements by clipping the bar code from the box and mailing it with their name and address.  Thanks for nothing.

The holding statement: "We took action on that basis as a precaution, because of the
possibility that a link might exist," said General Mills spokesman Tom
Forsythe. "However, to date we have found no E. coli in our plant, and
we have found no E. coli in our products."  No disparagement of Tom but people might want something from brass and more remedial-oriented language.

General Mills said it is cooperating fully with the investigation,
which is continuing. The company said it is not naming the pepperoni
supplier because the source of the E. coli is still under investigation.

Most likely the supplier will be given the blame and General Mills will have a "comprehensive review" of procedures.

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