Over 10 Million Pounds of Flour Recalled

After hearing recent rumors that Gold Medal and Wondra brands of flour have been recalled and contaminated with the E. coli virus, I decided to visit the General Mills website to find out more. While the claims have not been traced directly back to General Mills, over 10 million pounds of flour have been recalled according to major new sources such as NBC New, USA Today, and Fortune Magazine. Just below is the official statement from General Mills. Here you will find a complete list of the flours to be on the look at for. Also, towards the end of my post see what advice the CDC has for you. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – General Mills is collaborating with health officials to investigate an ongoing, multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 that may be potentially linked to Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour (sold in Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, Vons, United, Randalls, and Acme). Out of an abundance of caution, a voluntary recall is being made.  To date, E. coli O121 has not been found in any General Mills flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility, and the company has not been contacted directly by any consumer reporting confirmed illnesses related to these products.

Consumers: Please open this page to ask additional questions of our consumer relations team, or call us at 1-800-230-8103.

State and federal authorities have been researching 38 occurrences of illnesses across 20 states related to a specific type of E. coli (E. coli O121), between December 21, 2015, and May 3, 2016. While attempting to track the cause of the illness, CDC found that approximately half of the individuals reported making something homemade with flour at some point prior to becoming ill. Some reported using a General Mills brand of flour.

Based on the information that has been shared with General Mills, some of the ill consumers may have also consumed raw dough or batter. Consumers are reminded to not consume any raw products made with flour. Flour is an ingredient that comes from milling wheat, something grown outdoors that carries with it risks of bacteria which are rendered harmless by baking, frying or boiling. Consumers are reminded to wash their hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with raw dough products or flour, and to never eat raw dough or batter.

“As a leading provider of flour for 150 years, we felt it was important to not only recall the product and replace it for consumers if there was any doubt, but also to take this opportunity to remind our consumers how to safely handle flour,” said Liz Nordlie, president of General Mills Baking division.

Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. E. coli O121 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. 

Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O121 is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

The recall affects the following retail flour products that could be currently in stores or in consumers’ pantries. It includes six SKUs (stock keeping units or UPC codes) of Gold Medal flour, 2 SKU’s of Signature Kitchens flour and 1 SKU of Gold Medal Wondra flour. 

• If you have any of the products listed below, they should not be used. 
• Consumers, please visit this page to ask additional questions of our consumer relations team or you can also call us at 1-800-230-8103
• For additional information on this recall, please visit the General Mills blog.
• Media can reach the General Mills communications team at 763-764-6364 or at media.line@genmills.com

The specific products in the recall include: 

• 13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra

Package UPC 000-16000-18980

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25FEB2017 thru 30MAR2017

• 2 poundGold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10710

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC thru 03JUN2017KC

• 5 poundGold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC, 27MAY2017KC thru 31MAY2017KC, 01JUN2017KC, 03JUN2017KC thru 05JUN2017KC, 11JUN2017KC thru 14JUN2017KC

• 10 poundGold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10410

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 02JUN2017KC,03JUN2017KC

• 10 pound Gold Medal  All Purpose Flour- Banded Pack

Package UPC 000-16000-10410

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 03JUN2017KC, 04JUN2017KC, 05JUN2017KC

• 5 poundGold MedalUnbleached Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-19610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC, 27MAY2017KC, 03JUN2017KC, 04JUN2017KC

• 5 pound Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached
• Package UPC 000-21130-53001
  Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB MAY 28 2017

• 5 pound Signature Kitchens Unbleached Flour All Purpose Enriched

Package UPC 000-21130-53022

Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB MAY 27 2017

• 2 poundGold MedalSelf Rising Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-11710

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 23AUG2016KC1

According to Food Safety News, “Illnesses started on dates ranging from Dec. 21, 2015, to May 3, 2016. Ill people range in age from 1 year to 95, with a median age of 18,” according to the CDC outbreak announcement.

Additional victims could be identified because it takes several weeks for illnesses to be reported to officials after an E, coli infection is diagnosed, CDC reported.

Of 21 victims, 16 reported that they or someone in their household used flour in the week before they became ill.  Of 22 victims, nine reported eating or tasting raw homemade dough or batter before becoming ill.

A dozen of 22 victims reported using Gold Medal brand flour. Three victims reported eating or playing with raw dough at restaurants, according to the CDC.

As of May 31, the states with outbreak patients were: Alabama 1, Arkansas 1, Arizona 2, California 1, Colorado 4, Iowa 1, Illinois 4, Massachusetts 2, Maryland 1, Michigan 4, Minnesota 3, Missouri 1, Montana 1, New York 1, Oklahoma 2, Pennsylvania 2, Texas 2, Virginia 2, Washington 2 and Wisconsin 1.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers these recommendations on their website: 

Advice to Consumers

• Consumers should not use any of the recalled flour and should throw it out.
  • If you stored your flour in another container without the packaging and don’t remember the brand or better by date is, throw it out to be safe.
  • Consumers should thoroughly wash the containers before using them again.
• Eating raw dough can make you sick.
  • Flour or raw eggs used to make raw dough or batter might be contaminated. 
  • Bake items made with raw dough or batter before eating them. Follow the recipe or instructions on the package
  • Do not taste raw dough or batter. Even tasting a small amount could make you sick.
• Clean up thoroughly after baking.
  • Wash any bowls, utensils, and other surfaces that were used when baking with hot water and soap.
  • Wash your hands with water and soap after baking.
• Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have become ill from eating raw dough.
  • Most people infected with STEC develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps an average of 3-4 days after swallowing the germ.
  • More information about signs and symptoms of STEC infection is available on the Signs & Symptoms page.

Advice to Restaurants and Retailers

• Restaurants and other retailers should not sell or serve any of the recalled flour.
  • If you stored your flour in another container without the packaging and don’t remember what the brand or better by date is, throw it out to be safe
  • Restaurants and retailers should thoroughly wash flour storage containers before using them again.
• Clean up thoroughly after baking.
  • Wash any bowls, utensils, and other surfaces that were used when baking with hot water and soap.
  • Wash your hands with water and soap after baking.
• Always practice food safety for raw dough.
  • Do not give customers raw dough to play with or eat. It is not safe to eat or play with raw dough, whether made from recalled flour or any other flour.
  • Bake items made with raw dough or batter before serving or selling them. Follow the recipe or instructions on the package.