Duncan Hines cake mixes recalled over salmonella concerns

Conagra Brands is voluntarily recalling specific varieties of Duncan Hines cake mixes because they may be linked to a salmonella outbreak that the FDA and CDC are investigating, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent Nov. 5. Conagra Brands, out of an abundance of caution, has decided to initiate the recall even though it has not been conclusively determined that the cakes mixes are linked to the outbreak.

Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, lead consumer safety officer for DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The following products are affected by this recall:

• Duncan Hines Classic White Cake, 15.25 ounces: UPC 644209307500 with “best if used by” dates of March 7 – 10, 2019 and March 12 -13, 2019

• Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake , 15.25 ounces: UPC 644209307494 with “best if used by” dates of March 9 – 10, 2019 and March 12 -13, 2019

• Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake, 15.25 ounces: UPC 644209307593 with “best if used by” dates of March 7 – 9, 2019

• Duncan Hines Signature Confetti Cake, 15.25 ounces: UPC 644209414550 with “best if used by” dates of March 12 – 13, 2019

   

No other Duncan Hines or Conagra Brands products are affected by this recall.

To date, there have been five reports of illness related to the outbreak and several of the reports involved individuals who indicated they consumed a cake mix, some in its raw state, prior to becoming ill. Cake mixes and batter, often made with ingredients such as eggs or flour, can carry risks of bacteria that are rendered harmless by baking, frying or boiling. Consumers are reminded not to eat raw batter and to wash their hands and work surfaces and utensils after contact with raw batter products.

Salmonella can be potentially life-threatening, especially to infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. It can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella’s most common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Salmonella’s symptoms usually develop between eight to 72 hours after consumption of the contaminated food and last about four to seven days.

Customers should return the product to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.

Questions about this recall can be directed to the consumer care team at 888- 299-7646, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.