Man nabbed for allegedly putting razor blades into pizza sold at Saco Hannaford

Nicholas R. Mitchell is accused in at least one food tampering case that surfaced in Saco, Maine. (Police mughsot)

A man is under arrest today in a food tampering case that has forced the recall of an entire line of products sold at Hannaford supermarkets across New Hampshire and Maine.

Nicholas R. Mitchell, 38, was taken into custody by Dover police on Sunday in connection with a probe into reports of razor blades being found inside pizzas made by the Portland Pie Co. and sold at Hannafords all over New England and New York state.

According to reports, a customer at the Saco Hannafords found razor blades in Portland Pie pizza dough purchased on Oct. 5.

On Sunday Hannaford issued a product recall for all Portland Pie dough and cheese products sold at its 184 stores in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

"Hannaford Supermarkets has issued a recall for all Portland Pie cheese and Portland Pie fresh dough sold in the deli department," Hannaford said in its recall statement. "After what is believed to be further malicious tampering incidents involving metal objects inserted into Portland Pie products, Hannaford has removed all Portland Pie products from all store shelves and has paused replenishment of the products indefinitely."

The grocery store chain added that "out of an abundance of caution, Hannaford has expanded its recall for Portland Pie pizza dough to include all Portland Pie branded products at all Hannaford stores."

Portland Pie branded products are supplied by It'll Be Pizza, which operates a manufacturing facility in Scarborough. Saco police said Mitchell is a former associate of It'll Be Pizza company, the Portland Press Herald reported today.

Saco police used surveillance images to identify Mitchell and began circulating his image on Sunday, asking for the public's help in identifying him after a warrant for his arrest was executed.

Mitchell, whose home address has not been released, will now face extradition back to Maine. It is not clear where he is currently being held.

Hannaford said the recall timeline includes all Portland Pie pizza products purchased between Aug. 1 and Oct. 11.