Pillsbury Pizza Pops Recall: Which Products and What to Do

If you’ve got a box of Pillsbury Pizza Pops sitting in your freezer, you might want to check the label before dinner tonight. A growing E. coli O26 outbreak linked to several varieties has prompted two rounds of recalls since December 2025, with 30 confirmed illnesses and eight hospitalizations reported across five provinces. This guide walks you through exactly which products are affected, how to verify your package, and what to do next to get a refund.

Confirmed infections: 30 (as of Jan 26, 2026) ·
Recall announced: December 21, 2025 ·
Recall expanded: January 2026 ·
Pathogen: E. coli O26

Six key facts summarise the recall scope and status.

Which Pillsbury Pizza Pops Were Recalled?

The recall covers four main product lines. Six varieties, each with specific UPC codes and best‑before date ranges, are affected.

Four product lines, each with a distinct date window: the pattern spans mid‑June 2026 best‑before dates.

All affected products carry a “better if used by” date between June 9 and June 21, 2026. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA, Canada’s federal food safety watchdog) first published the recall alert on December 21, 2025, and expanded it in January 2026 as the outbreak grew.

The implication: if your package’s best‑before date falls in that June 2026 window, it is almost certainly part of the recall — regardless of where you bought it.

Pepperoni + Bacon 30‑pack

The largest format affected is the 30‑count family box (2.85 kg). Two specific best‑before codes — 09JN2026WN and 10JN2026WN — are flagged. CFIA’s recall notice lists this product first, indicating it was the initial focus of the investigation.

Pepperoni + Bacon 8‑pack

The smaller 8‑count box of Pepperoni + Bacon carries UPC 0 69052 12962 6 and best‑before dates up to 14JN2026WN. Consumers who buy the single‑serve size should check these codes.

Three Cheese

The Three Cheese variety (UPC 0 69052 12963 3) is included with dates 10JN2026WN through 15JN2026WN. This is a popular lunchbox item, so parents are advised to verify school‑day snacks.

Pepperoni varieties

The classic Pepperoni and Pepperoni Bacon products round out the recall list. Their best‑before windows extend to 21JN2026WN, making them some of the longest‑dated items affected.

Do Pizza Pops Have E. Coli?

Yes — the outbreak strain of E. coli O26 has been confirmed in samples of the recalled Pillsbury Pizza Pops, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). As of January 26, 2026, 30 people had fallen ill across five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick, as reported by Delish. Eight people required hospitalization, but no deaths have been recorded.

Outbreak details

Illnesses began showing up as early as October 2025, with the last reported onset in early January 2026. The affected individuals span an unusually wide age range — 1 to 87 years old — according to PHAC’s outbreak page.

Symptoms of E. coli infection

Symptoms typically appear 1 to 10 days after exposure and include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and watery or bloody diarrhea. Severe cases can lead to seizures, strokes, kidney damage, or even death, warns Global News. Anyone who has eaten a recalled product and develops these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

How to report illness

PHAC encourages anyone who believes they became sick after consuming Pizza Pops to contact their local public health unit. No formal consumer reporting portal exists, but your provincial health authority can track cases and connect you to follow‑up care.

What this means: the outbreak is active and ongoing. If you or a family member has symptoms, do not wait — contact a healthcare provider.

Why Were Pillsbury Pizza Pops Recalled?

The recall was triggered by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigation that found E. coli O26 in product samples. General Mills Canada Corporation, the manufacturer, issued a voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution,” a company spokesperson said in a press release. The initial recall on December 21, 2025, covered only Pepperoni + Bacon varieties, but PHAC’s outbreak notice confirms the recall was expanded in January 2026 as more products tested positive and the case count climbed.

Contamination source

E. coli O26 is a Shiga toxin‑producing strain that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Unlike the more common O157:H7, O26 is less understood by the public but carries similar risks of hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure) in vulnerable populations. The exact point of contamination — whether at the ingredient supplier, the production line, or distribution — has not been publicly specified by General Mills or CFIA.

General Mills response

General Mills has set up a consumer hotline at 1‑800‑230‑8103 for recall questions, as reported by Delish. The company has not issued a statement about whether other Pillsbury frozen products (such as Toaster Strudel or Grands! biscuits) are affected, but no such recalls have been announced.

What Should You Do If You Have Recalled Pizza Pops?

CFIA’s guidance is clear: do not consume, serve, use, or distribute the recalled products. If you have any of the affected packages at home, follow these steps.

Check your product

Look for the UPC code and best‑before date on the back or bottom of the box. Compare them against the table above. If the first six digits of the UPC match 0 69052 and the date falls between 09JN2026WN and 21JN2026WN, the product is part of the recall.

Refund process

You can return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Most major Canadian retailers — including Loblaws, Sobeys, Costco, and Walmart — are accepting returns on recalled items, though policies may vary. If you no longer have the receipt, General Mills consumer service can process a refund directly. Call 1‑800‑230‑8103 or use the contact form on the General Mills Canada website.

Contact information

• General Mills Consumer Relations: 1‑800‑230‑8103
• CFIA recall page: CFIA Recalls – Pizza Pops
• PHAC outbreak notice: Public Health Agency of Canada

The trade‑off: you can get your money back whether you have the receipt or not, but the refund process may take longer if you go through the manufacturer rather than the store.

What Is the Latest Status of the Pizza Pops Recall?

As of January 26, 2026, the outbreak is still under active investigation. PHAC, CFIA, and provincial health partners continue to work with General Mills to trace contaminated products and identify any additional affected items.

The pattern: each step — initial recall, expansion, case update — has come within weeks, suggesting fast‑moving investigation. Consumers should expect further updates from CFIA and PHAC if new products or batches test positive.

Clarity: What We Know and What We Don’t

“Certain Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops recalled due to E. coli O26.”

— Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), recall alert on social media

“Voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution.”

— General Mills spokesperson, press release

For Canadian households, the choice is clear: check your freezer now, return or dispose of any recalled product, and watch for updates from CFIA and PHAC. Doing nothing could mean eating a product linked to an active outbreak — the safer bet is to act today.

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