Margherita Pepperoni Sticks recalled

The Department of Defense has initiated a recall on Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Margherita Pepperoni Stick products because a sample has tested positive for Bacillus cereus, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent Dec. 10.

Bacillus cereus is an aerobic spore-forming bacterium that is commonly found in soil, on vegetables, and in many raw and processed foods. B. cereus food poisoning may cause intestinal illnesses with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, Chief, Public Health Division, DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The following product is affected by this recall:

• Margherita RTE Pepperoni, 8-ounce stick: UPC 3861636037 with product code 13481168611258 and “Use-By” date of Dec. 14.

Customers should return these products to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.