General Mills Flour Recall
Today, General Mills announced a recall on Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour (sold in Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, Vons, United, Randalls, and Acme) due a multistate outbreak of E. coli which may be linked to these products.
This is a voluntary recall by General Mills. To date, they have not found E. coli is any of their flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility. Nor have they been contacted by any consumer reporting an illness related to these products.
This recall was put into action because there have been 38 occurrences of illness related to E. coli between December 21, 2015 through May 3, 2016. During their investigation, the CDC found more than half of those effected by the E.coli strain (E. coli O121) reported making something homemade with flour, some of which used a General Mills brand of flour.
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.
The products being recalled are as follows:
13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra
- Package UPC 000-16000-18980
- Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25FEB2017 thru 30MAR2017
2 pound Gold Medal All Purpose Flour
- Package UPC 000-16000-10710
- Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC thru 03JUN2017KC
5 pound Gold 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 pound Gold 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 pound Gold Medal Unbleached 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 pound Gold Medal Self Rising Flour
- Package UPC 000-16000-11710
- Recalled Better if Used by Dates 23AUG2016KC
You can see photos of these products at General Mills official recall announcement page, here.
If you have any of the products listed above, they should not be used. Please visit this page to ask additional questions with General Mills consumer relations team or you can call at 1-800-230-8103
Information about handling flour
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.
Information about E.Coli O121
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.