General Mills expands recall of flour products
After an earlier recall of certain flour products due to a possible link to a multistate E.coli 0121 outbreak, General Mills is expanding its recall due to four new confirmed illnesses according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent July 26.
The recall was expanded after four more individuals developed E. coli illness after they ate or handled uncooked dough or ate uncooked batter made with raw flour. No illnesses have been connected with flour that has been properly baked or cooked.
The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this withdrawal notice to all its stores, said Richard Stith, the lead consumer safety officer for DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has a recalled product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from store shelves.
"We have learned that the commissary carries some of the products listed in the recall," Stith said. "The stores are currently pulling those items from the shelves." DeCA food safety officials are monitoring this recall for any updates."
The following products are being recalled:
- Gold Medal Wondra, 13.5 ounce: UPC 000-16000-18980, "better if used by date" code 14MAY2017PK
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, 2 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10710, "better if used by date" codes 18JUN2017KC, 01AUG2017KC and 13AUG2017KC through 21AUG2017KC
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, 10 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10410, "better if used by date" codes 18JUN2017KC and 01AUG2017KC
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, 5 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10610, "better if used by date" codes 18JUN2017KC, 01AUG2017KC and 13AUG2017KC through 21AUG2017KC
- Gold Medal Self Rising Flour, 5 pounds: UPC 000-16000-11610, "better if used by date" code 27OCT2016KC
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, 4.25 pounds: UPC 000-16000-12670, "better if used by date" codes 01AUG2017KC, 19AUG2017KC, 20AUG2017KC and 21AUG2017KC
- Gold Medal Unbleached Flour, 5 pounds: UPC 000-16000-19610, "better if used by date" codes 01AUG2017KC, 14AUG2017KC, 15AUG2017KC, 16AUG2017KC, 17AUG2017KC, 19AUG2017KC and 20AUG2017KC
- Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached, 2 pounds: UPC 000-21130-53000, "better if used by date" codes BB 15 AUG 2017 and BB 16 AUG 2017
- Signature Kitchens Unbleached Flour All Purpose Enriched, 5 pounds: UPC 000-21130-53022, "better if used by date" code BB 01 AUG 2017
The original recall listed the following products:
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour 2 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10710, "better if used by dates" of May 25, 2017 through June 3, 2017
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour 5 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10610, "better if used by dates" of May 25, 2017; May 27, 2017 through May 31, 2017; June 1, 2017; June 3, 2017 through June 5, 2017 and June 11, 2017 through June 14, 2017
- Gold Medal All Purpose Flour 10 pounds: UPC 000-16000-10410, "better if used by dates" of June 2, 2017 and June 3, 2017
- Gold Medal Unbleached Flour 5 pounds: UPC 000-16000-19610, "better if used by dates" of May 25, 2017; May 27, 2017; June 3, 2017 and June 4, 2017
Customers should return this product to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers are reminded not to 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.
Infection with E. coli can result in dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called HUS, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
HUS can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults. Symptoms of HUS may include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination, and swelling.
Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
For additional information and a full list of products affected by this recall please visit the Food and Drug Administration's page on this recall.
Consumers with questions on the recall may contact General Mills at (800) 230-8103.