NEW YORK — General Mills is recalling roughly 10 million pounds of its flour after investigators found a possible link between the product and an E. coli outbreak in 20 states.
The recall includes several varieties of Gold Medal and Signature Kitchens flour that were sold at Safeway, Albertsons and other supermarkets. According to General Mills, no E. coli bacteria has been found in tests of the company’s flour products, and the recall is being done out of “an abundance of caution.”
The company issued a release Tuesday saying that 38 people contracted a specific type of E. coli between December 21, 2015, and May 3, 2016.
Half of the people who became ill reported making something with General Mills flour. Some of those people may have eaten raw dough or batter, according to the company.
General Mills reminded customers in the release that they shouldn’t consume any raw products made with floor. Flour, which comes from wheat, is grown outdoors and may carry bacteria that is “rendered harmless by baking, frying or boiling.”
The strain of bacteria under investigation, E. coli 0121, is potentially deadly among people with weakened immune systems, and can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration in healthy adults.
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:
You can visit this page to ask additional questions of or call General Mills at 1-800-230-8103.
