Gold Medal Unbleached flour recalled over E. coli concerns

General Mills is voluntarily recalling their 5-pound Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour product due to potential E. coli contamination, according to a recall notice from the Defense Commissary Agency’s food safety office sent Sep. 16.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, supervisory 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 Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.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 product is affected by this recall:

• Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour, 5 lbs. : UPC: 000-16000-19610-0 with a “better if used by” date of Sep. 6, 2020
  
   

No other types or sizes of Gold Medal flour is affected.

Infection with E. coli can result in dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps two to eight days (three to four days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).

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. The condition can lead to kidney failure and even death.

Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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

Consumers with questions on the recall may call the General Mills consumer hotline at 800-230-8103.