Champion Foods, a Michigan-based manufacturer, has initiated a recall of its popular frozen cheese bread products over concerns of salmonella contamination. The recall, announced Monday, affects select batches of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread sold nationwide at major retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Kroger.
The move follows a separate recall by California Dairies, Inc. for milk powder that may be contaminated with salmonella. That powder is a key ingredient in the five-cheese sauce blend used in the breads, prompting the precautionary action.
Salmonella infection can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in healthy individuals, but poses a higher risk to children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. In rare cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream, bones, urine, or organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The recalled products were sold in single and double packs at a wide range of stores, including Costco, Walmart, Giant Landover, Grocery Outlet, Jewel, Kroger, Schnucks, Target, C&S, Bozzuto’s, Brookshire Grocery, Meijer, Food City, KeHe, Lipari, Publix, Merchants Dis Hickory, PDI/Hy-Vee, River Valley, SpartanNash, Supervalu, and UNFI.
Affected single packs carry the UPC code 8 70375 00511 1 and sell-by dates including December 4, 2027, February 5, 2027, and several others in March and April 2027. The two-pack version, UPC 8 70375 00509 8, has sell-by dates in February and March 2027. A full list of affected dates is available from the company.
As of Monday, Champion Foods reported no confirmed illnesses linked to the products, and routine testing has come back negative. “However, we are taking action out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our customers,” the company stated.
This recall adds to a growing list of food safety actions this month tied to salmonella contamination in various products. Earlier, a separate recall of specialty beverages over similar concerns affected 25 states, highlighting the persistent challenge of bacterial contamination in the food supply chain.
Consumers who purchased the affected cheese bread are advised to check the UPC and sell-by dates and contact Champion Foods at [email protected] for further instructions. The company has not yet disclosed whether refunds or replacements will be offered.
The recall underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in the food industry, where ingredients sourced from multiple suppliers can create cascading safety risks. With major retailers like Costco and Walmart involved, the reach of this recall is significant, potentially affecting thousands of households across the country.
For now, Champion Foods says it is cooperating with the FDA and has ceased distribution of the affected batches. Consumers are urged to discard any recalled products or return them to the place of purchase.
