UPDATE: General Mills Recalls Gold Medal and Other Flour Products After 38 Illnesses in 20 States
The Kane County Health Department is advising that General Mills is recalling 10 million pounds of flour as it works with health officials to investigate an ongoing, multistate outbreak of E. coli O121. The outbreak is potentially linked to Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour products, which have been sold in Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, Vons, United, Randalls, and Acme stores.
General Mills officials said the voluntary recall is being made “out of an abundance of caution.” 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: Open this page to ask additional questions of General Mills’ consumer relations team, or call 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 Dec. 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.
UPDATE: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that flour produced at a General Mills Inc. plant in Kansas City, MO, was probably the source of the E.Coli outbreak.
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.
General Mills has a plant in West Chicago, IL, which is scheduled to be closed in 2017.
The specific products in the recall include:
Safety Tips Related to Flour
- Flour comes from milling wheat, grown outdoors where bacteria are often present. Flour is a raw ingredient that is intended to be cooked or baked. While it is rare for individuals to get sick from flour, it is possible.
- Raw dough or batter should not be eaten – no matter how tempting. Children should not be provided raw dough to play with (including at restaurants) unless they are carefully supervised and wash their hands afterwards. Young children frequently like to put things in their mouth or ‘taste’ things, and they are particularly susceptible to getting sick from food borne illnesses.
- Bacteria found in raw flour are eliminated by normal cooking, baking, frying, or boiling products made with flour. Bacteria is commonly found in flour at low levels because flour comes from milling wheat, something that is grown outdoors where bacteria are often present.
- All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough. Surfaces dusted with flour to roll dough for example, should be properly cleaned after use.
- Additional food safety information is available on the FDA’s website.
- If you have any of the products in the recall – listed at GeneralMills.com/Flour – they should be disposed of and not used.
- If you have additional questions, including how to receive replacement products, call 1-800-230-8103.
SOURCES: CDC, General Mills news release and blog
