Frederic Melton
Totino's Pizza Rolls are a frozen food product consisting of bite-sized breaded pizza pockets with an interior of tomato sauce, cheese, and various pizza toppings. They were created in the mid-1960s in Duluth, Minnesota, by product developer and cook Beatrice Ojakangas, who worked for food industry entrepreneur Jeno Paulucci. The product was later sold to Pillsbury in 1985, which owned Totino's Pizza, and the rolls were rebranded under the Totino's brand in 1993. In 2001, Pillsbury was sold to General Mills, which currently owns the Totino's brand. While Totino's Pizza Rolls are popular, particularly among students, there has been some controversy surrounding the product's use of imitation cheese, with a class-action lawsuit filed against General Mills in 2023 alleging that the product is deceptively marketed as containing real cheese. This lawsuit was dismissed by an Illinois federal judge, who stated that the definition of pizza does not include a reference to real cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of real cheese | No, Totino's Pizza Rolls use imitation cheese made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein instead of milk solids |
| Lawsuits | A class-action lawsuit was filed by Lakita Smith in Illinois, which was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah |
| Customer reviews | Negative reviews on Reddit mention a change in taste and texture, with an increased amount of salty cheese and less pepperoni |
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What You'll Learn
Totino's pizza rolls are made with imitation cheese
Totino's Pizza Rolls are a popular frozen snack, but there has been some controversy over their ingredients. In particular, Totino's has faced legal action over the use of imitation cheese in its pizza rolls.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against General Mills Sales, Inc., the owner of Totino's, alleging that the company deceptively markets its frozen cheese pizza rolls as containing real cheese when, in fact, they are made with imitation cheese. The plaintiff, Lakita Smith, argued that the representations on the packaging, such as "Cheese" and "Pizza In A Golden Crust," along with images of what appears to be white cheese, are false, deceptive, and misleading. She claimed that the product uses imitation cheese, which is made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein, instead of milk solids.
However, the lawsuit was dismissed by an Illinois federal judge, who stated that the definition of pizza does not include a reference to "real cheese." The judge also mentioned that federal regulations do not contain a standard of identity for pizza. Additionally, the judge disagreed that a reasonable consumer would expect the pizza rolls to be made with traditional cheese based on the packaging and dictionary definitions of pizza. The court found that General Mills was in compliance with federal regulations by disclosing the presence of imitation cheese on the product's ingredient list.
While the legal battle over the use of imitation cheese in Totino's Pizza Rolls has concluded, it has left some consumers feeling disappointed and misled. Some customers have taken to online platforms to express their dissatisfaction with the taste and quality of the pizza rolls, describing them as "awful" and "gross."
Despite the controversy, Totino's Pizza Rolls remain a convenient and popular snack option for many, especially teens and busy individuals looking for a quick bite. The ability to heat them up in the microwave, oven, or air fryer in no time has kept Totino's Pizza Rolls as a go-to choice for those craving a savory snack.
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A class action lawsuit was filed against Totino's for false advertising
A class-action lawsuit was filed against Totino's, owned by General Mills Sales, Inc., for false advertising. The lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Lakita Smith, alleged that Totino's deceptively markets its frozen cheese pizza rolls because they are not made with real cheese. Smith argued that when customers are marketed "cheese" and "pizza," they expect the product to contain real cheese, which Totino's pizza rolls do not. Instead, the pizza rolls use imitation cheese made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein, rather than milk solids.
The lawsuit specifically targeted the packaging and name of the snack, claiming that they were misleading to consumers. It contended that the pizza-centric representations, including the name "Totino's Pizza Rolls," implied that the product contained a significant amount of cheese, which is a typical ingredient associated with pizza. However, the cheese in Totino's pizza rolls was found to be "almost entirely imitation cheese."
The case also highlighted the nutritional implications of using imitation cheese, stating that consumers who purchased Totino's pizza rolls received a "nutritionally inferior food." According to federal and state regulations, the lawsuit argued that the product's packaging should disclose the percentage of the characterizing cheese ingredient. Despite Totino's attempt to disclaim the presence of cheese by using the term "Naturally Flavored" on the packaging, the lawsuit claimed this was insufficient to overcome the misleading nature of the product's name and representations.
The lawsuit sought to cover consumers in Illinois, Arkansas, Iowa, Utah, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana who bought Totino's pizza rolls within the relevant statute of limitations period. However, the case was ultimately dismissed by U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah, who disagreed with Smith's claims. Judge Shah stated that none of the definitions of pizza referenced in the complaint mandated the use of a specific amount of real cheese. Additionally, federal regulations do not contain a standard of identity for pizza. Smith was given the opportunity to file an amended complaint by March 24, 2023.
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The lawsuit was dismissed by an Illinois federal judge
A class-action lawsuit was filed against General Mills Sales, Inc., the maker of Totino's Pizza Rolls, alleging that the product is deceptively marketed as it does not contain real cheese. The plaintiff, Lakita Smith, argued that when consumers see "cheese" and "pizza" on the packaging, they expect the product to contain real cheese. Totino's Pizza Rolls were said to use imitation cheese made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein instead of milk solids.
However, Judge Manish S. Shah of the Illinois federal court disagreed with Smith's claims. He stated that none of the definitions of pizza referenced in the complaint mentioned a requirement for a specific amount of real cheese. Additionally, federal regulations do not contain a standard of identity for pizza. Judge Shah also disputed the argument that General Mills was required to disclose the percentage of real cheese in the product, as front labels only need to reveal the percentage of a food's "characterizing ingredient." The judge explained that Smith bought "Pizza Rolls" with "Cheese" as a "Natural Flavor," not "Cheese Pizza Rolls."
The plaintiff had until March 24 to file an amended complaint. While consumers may have expectations for the amount of real cheese in pizza products, Judge Shah noted that these expectations would not necessarily align with FDA regulations, which may include nuances that the average consumer is not aware of.
The lawsuit's dismissal by Judge Shah highlights the complexities of food labeling regulations and consumer expectations. It underscores the importance of understanding the nuances of FDA regulations, even if the product's packaging and name may have led consumers to believe that the pizza rolls contained real cheese.
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Totino's pizza rolls were created in the 1960s
Totino's, a brand of frozen pizza products, was founded as a restaurant in the 1950s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the 1960s, Totino's expanded into frozen foods, first selling frozen pasta and then frozen pizza. The brand was born in Rose Totino's Minneapolis pizza parlor. Rose Totino and her husband Jim Totino founded a take-out pizzeria in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 7, 1951. After customers regularly tried to eat in the store, they expanded to a full-service restaurant.
Jeno Paulucci, who founded Jeno's Inc. in 1968, is credited with inventing the pizza rolls that Totino's would later become famous for. Paulucci sold his products as Jeno's Pizza Rolls for several years before selling his company to Pillsbury in 1985. The pizza rolls were then rebranded as Totino's in 1993.
Pizza rolls are a type of egg roll filled with pizza ingredients. While Totino's pizza rolls are famous, they have also been criticized for their high amounts of trans fat and sodium. In 2011, Consumer Reports rated Totino's as "only fair for nutrition" due to their high total fat and trans fat content and low fiber content.
Totino's pizza rolls have also been the subject of controversy due to their use of imitation cheese. In 2024, a class-action lawsuit was filed against General Mills Sales, Inc., the maker of Totino's pizza rolls, alleging that the product was deceptively marketed as containing cheese and pizza when it used imitation cheese. The lawsuit claimed that the imitation cheese was made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein instead of milk solids. However, the lawsuit was dismissed by an Illinois federal judge, who stated that the definition of pizza does not include a reference to "real cheese."
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The rolls are sold in a variety of flavours
Pizza rolls are sold under the Totino's brand, owned by General Mills, which trademarked the name "pizza rolls". They were created in the mid-1960s in Duluth, Minnesota, by product developer and cook Beatrice Ojakangas, who worked for food industry entrepreneur Jeno Paulucci. Paulucci sold his company to Pillsbury in 1985, and the pizza rolls moved to the Totino's brand.
Despite their name, pizza rolls do not contain real cheese. In 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed against General Mills Sales, Inc., alleging that Totino's deceptively markets its frozen cheese pizza rolls because they are made with imitation cheese. This imitation cheese is made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein, instead of milk solids. However, the lawsuit was dismissed by an Illinois federal judge, who stated that the definition of pizza does not include a reference to "real cheese".
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Frequently asked questions
No, pizza rolls never had real cheese. They are made with imitation cheese, which is made by combining vegetable oils, corn starch, and casein.
Pizza rolls are a frozen food product consisting of bite-sized breaded pizza pockets with an interior of tomato sauce, imitation cheese, and various pizza toppings.
Yes, pizza rolls come in a variety of flavors, including cheese, pepperoni, sausage, supreme, multiple imitation cheeses, and mixed meats.
Pizza rolls were created in the mid-1960s in Duluth, Minnesota, by product developer and cook Beatrice Ojakangas, who worked for food industry entrepreneur Jeno Paulucci.
Pizza rolls are a convenient and tasty snack, but they may not be the most nutritious option. They are high in calories and may contain high levels of sodium and saturated fat.
