General Mills recalls some Gold Medal flour amid E. coli worry
General Mills has launched a nationwide recall of 5-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with a better-if-used-by date of Sept. 6, 2020.
The voluntary recall comes after the “potential presence” of E. coli O26 was detected during sampling, the company said in a statement posted Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The company said there have been no cases of confirmed illnesses but that it ordered the recall as a precaution. No other Gold Medal Flour is affected by the recall.
The Twin Cities-based food giant urged consumers to check if they’ve purchased the affected product with the Sept. 6, 2020 date.
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Consumers who need to discard flour covered by the recall should contact General Mills consumer relations at 1-800-230-8103.
E. coli O26 is killed by heat through baking or boiling products made with flour. While most E. coli strains are harmless, E. coli O26 is a “potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration,” the company noted.
Seniors, the very young, and people with compromised immune systems can be particularly susceptible to foodborne illness.
Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a doctor. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O26 should contact state public health authorities, General Mills added.
The FDA and General Mills urged people not to eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour. Flour is typically not treated to kill bacteria during the normal milling process.