What Happened

Champion Foods LLC announced a voluntary recall of select batches of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread — a frozen product sold at Costco warehouses — due to a potential salmonella contamination risk.

The issue traces back through a chain of suppliers. According to the NY Post and Fox Business, the recalled milk powder was supplied by California Dairies to a third-party manufacturer that produces a seasoning blend used in the product's five-cheese sauce mixture.

One ingredient, from one supplier, triggered a chain reaction all the way to store shelves.

Who's Affected

Costco has already sent direct notifications to members whose purchase records show they bought the product between February 6 and May 29, 2026.

The recall covers two versions:

• Single-pack (UPC: 8 70375 00511 1) — sell-by dates from February 4, 2027 through April 21, 2027
• Two-pack (UPC: 8 70375 00509 8) — sell-by dates of February 3, 4, 24, 25; March 10, 11, 18, and 25, 2027

If the UPC or date matches, don't eat it. Return it to any Costco warehouse for a full refund.

Zero Illnesses. Still a Recall.

Champion Foods said in a statement that routine testing conducted by the seasoning blend manufacturer before production showed the batches tested NEGATIVE for salmonella. The company issued the recall anyway, citing "an abundance of caution."

Costco confirmed in its member notices that no illnesses or injuries have been reported in connection with these products.

Because a supplier upstream — California Dairies — flagged its milk powder as potentially contaminated, Champion Foods pulled the product from shelves even though downstream testing came back clean. This is standard protocol when contamination is flagged at the source.

What Salmonella Actually Does

The FDA describes salmonella as an organism capable of causing serious — and sometimes fatal — infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

For healthy adults, symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The Cleveland Clinic notes symptoms can appear within hours to a few days of exposure and usually resolve in three to seven days without medical intervention.

In rare, severe cases, salmonella can spread to the bloodstream and cause arterial infections, endocarditis, or arthritis. In most cases, the infection resolves on its own.

Salmonella is the most common form of food poisoning in the United States, infecting more than one million people annually. Most cases are tied to undercooked poultry, but contaminated dairy ingredients are a documented vector.

What Mainstream Coverage Got Wrong

Most outlets treated this as a routine recall story and moved on. But several buried or omitted the specific name of the upstream supplier, California Dairies. Only the Daily Mail named them directly.

When contamination scares ripple through a supply chain, knowing which company flagged the original ingredient helps consumers identify whether other products they purchase might share the same supplier.

People magazine's coverage was inaccessible entirely — a paywall-locked article with no usable information. Every outlet also framed this as a "popular" item, engagement language that obscures the actual health issue.

What You Should Do Right Now

Check your freezer. Check the UPC code. Check the sell-by date.

If it matches — don't eat it. Bag it up and bring it to Costco. They will give you your money back, no questions asked. Costco's member-tracking system already flagged most affected buyers directly, but don't wait for a notification if you think you have the product.

The supply chain that produced this recall involves three companies: California Dairies flagged the milk powder, a third-party seasoning manufacturer used it before testing came back clean, and Champion Foods pulled the product from shelves. Salmonella in the right circumstances can put vulnerable people in the hospital, making this a precaution worth taking over a bag of frozen cheese bread.