MINNEAPOLIS, July 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to four new
confirmed illnesses, General Mills is adding additional flour
production dates to the previously announced U.S. retail flour
recall that was originally announced on May
31, 2016. The illnesses reported to health officials
continue to be connected with consumers reporting that 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, cooked or handled.
The addition of new flour production dates is the result of
General Mills conducting proactive flour testing and new
information from health officials who are using new whole genome
sequencing techniques to trace illnesses. E.coli (several
sub-types) has been detected in a small number of General Mills
flour samples and some have been linked to new patient illnesses
that fell outside of the previously recalled dates.
At this time, it is unknown if we are experiencing a higher
prevalence of E.coli in flour than normal, if this is an
issue isolated to General Mills' flour, or if this is an issue
across the flour industry. The newer detection and genome
sequencing tools are also possibly making a connection to flour
that may have always existed at these levels.
"As a leader in flour production for 150 years, General Mills is
committed to convening experts to work with government officials to
learn more and create new protocols, if needed," said General
Mills President and Chief Operating
Officer Jeff Harmening. "Most
importantly, we want all the avid home bakers out there to have
peace of mind and know the most important thing they can do to keep
safe is to not eat uncooked flour."
Flour is a raw ingredient that is intended to be cooked or
baked. Flour is made from wheat that is grown outdoors where
bacteria are often present and the normal flour milling process
does not remove these bacteria.
In order for severe E. coli illness to occur from flour,
all three of the following things have to happen:
(1)
|
The flour a consumer
is using has to contain the rare sub-types of E.coli that
can make you sick.
|
(2)
|
The consumer has to
eat raw dough, batter or other uncooked food made with the flour,
or handle the raw dough and not wash their hands.
|
(3)
|
The consumer's
individual health characteristics will impact if they get sick and
how severely. Some consumers have mild symptoms and others get very
sick. It is not always known who will get sick and who will
not.
|
Previously announced recalled flour production dates ranged from
November 4, 2015 through December 4, 2015. The expansion announced today
includes select production dates through February 10, 2016. The new recall applies only to
the specific product and date codes listed
below.
13.5 ounce Gold Medal
Wondra
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-18980
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
14MAY2017PK
|
|
|
2lb Gold Medal All
Purpose Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-10710
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
18JUN2017KC,
01AUG2017KC, 13AUG2017KC through
21AUG2017KC
|
|
|
10lb Gold Medal All
Purpose Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-10410
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
18JUN2017KC,
01AUG2017KC
|
|
|
5lb Gold Medal All
Purpose Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-10610
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
18JUN2017KC,
01AUG2017KC, 13AUG2017KC through
21AUG2017KC
|
5lb Gold Medal Self
Rising Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-11610
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
27OCT2016KC
|
|
|
4.25lb Gold Medal All
Purpose Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-12670
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
01AUG2017KC,
19AUG2017KC, 20AUG2017KC, 21AUG2017KC
|
|
|
5lb Gold Medal
Unbleached Flour
|
|
Package
UPC
|
000-16000-19610
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
01AUG2017KC,
14AUG2017KC, 15AUG2017KC, 16AUG2017KC,
17AUG2017KC, 19AUG2017KC, 20AUG2017KC
|
|
|
2lb Signature
Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached
|
Package
UPC
|
000-21130-53000
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
BB 15 AUG 2017, BB 16
AUG 2017
|
|
|
5lb Signature
Kitchens Unbleached Flour All Purpose Enriched
|
Package
UPC
|
000-21130-53022
|
Recalled Better if
Used by Dates
|
BB 01 AUG
2017
|
Consumers are asked to throw away any flour in their possession
that is part of this recall. A full list of retail products
included in the flour recall since May 31,
2016 can be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.
Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can
make you sick. Some strains of E. coli create 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. Guidance
from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be found on the FDA
website and the CDC website.
Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to
E. coli is also urged to contact state and local public
health authorities.
Consumers with questions or requesting replacement product
should contact General Mills at 1-800-230-8103. Consumer
information can also be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-mills-expands-retail-flour-recall-300303366.html
SOURCE General Mills