Walmart has issued a recall for over 8,000 boxes of frozen meat pizzas due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The pizzas, produced by the meat processing plant 802 VT Frozen in Newport, contained soy—a known allergen.
Soy allergies can cause symptoms like hard breathing, stomach cramps, and swollen tongue, especially in children under three years old.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology also warned of rare instances of anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening reaction that impairs breathing and causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. The only treatment for anaphylaxis is an epinephrine pen.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from consuming these pizzas. They include Italian-style sweet sausage, pepperoni, and meatballs on a cheesy blend of mozzarella and provolone.
The mislabeled pizzas were discovered during routine verification activities by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). If you purchased these pizzas, check for a "best if used by" date between April 25, 2024, and April 25, 2025, along with an "EST. 46308" number on the cardboard box.
Affected customers can return or get a refund for the soy-containing frozen pizzas at Walmart stores in New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Additionally, FSIS recently found that some ground beef products from the Greater Omaha Packing Co. may be tainted with E. coli. Consumers are advised not to consume these products, which should display a "Use/Freeze by" date of April 22 and the establishment number "EST. 960A."