The Canadian Food Inspection Agency expanded its recall of Pillsbury Pizza Pops on January 25, 2026, adding more varieties over possible E. coli O26 contamination. The recall is tied to an outbreak spanning seven provinces, with 23 confirmed cases and five hospitalizations reported as investigators urged consumers to check their freezers.
More varieties added to the recall
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced on Sunday, January 25, that numerous Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops products had been added to an existing recall due to possible contamination with E. coli O26. The expansion brought the recall to 11 product varieties made by General Mills Canada Corporation, covering the 3 Cheese, Pepperoni, Pepperoni and Bacon, 3 Meat and Deluxe lines, plus the Supremo Extreme Pepperoni + Bacon variety.
The products were sold in four-count, eight-count and 30-count packages with “Better If Used By” dates ranging from June 8 to June 21, 2026. A complete list of affected products, including UPC codes, is posted on the federal recall website.
The CFIA warned that food contaminated with E. coli O26 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make people sick, and said recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.
An outbreak across seven provinces
The recall is tied to an outbreak of E. coli O26 infections under investigation by the Public Health Agency of Canada. As of the January 25 expansion, 23 confirmed cases had been reported across seven provinces — Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador — and five people had been hospitalized.
The numbers kept moving. Public health updates in the days that followed raised the confirmed total to 29 cases by January 28, underlining why officials kept widening the recall as the investigation traced the contamination.
The outbreak had been building for weeks. A first, smaller recall of select Pizza Pops products was issued on December 21, 2025, also for possible E. coli contamination, and the CFIA said the January expansion was triggered by findings from its food safety investigation into the outbreak. The agency said its investigation could lead to the recall of other products, and that it was verifying that industry was removing the recalled items from the marketplace.
What General Mills says
General Mills, which makes Pizza Pops under the Pillsbury brand, said in a statement that food safety is its top priority and that it was working with retail partners to remove potentially affected products.
“Consumers are asked to check their freezers and dispose of the products affected by this recall,” the company’s statement said.
Symptoms and who is most at risk
According to the CFIA, symptoms of E. coli illness can include nausea, vomiting, headache, mild fever, severe stomach cramps, and watery or bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, illness can lead to seizures or strokes, and some people may need blood transfusions or kidney dialysis, or be left with permanent kidney damage.
Most people recover fully within a few days without treatment. However, people who are pregnant, children under the age of five, adults over 60 and anyone with a weakened immune system face a higher risk of severe illness. Anyone who thinks they became sick after eating a recalled product is advised to contact a health-care provider.
