General Mills issues recall of flour

Before you bake that loaf of bread or batch of cookies, you should check your flour. If you are using Gold Medal flour, it may be subject to a recall. Yesterday General Mills announced a voluntary recall of over 10 million pounds of flour, stating that it was working with health officials to investigate a possible association with the product and an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened 38 people in 20 U.S. states. 

The recall affects General Mills’ Gold Medal, Wondra and Signature Kitchens flours. None of the bacteria has been found in the flour itself or in the General Mills’ manufacturing plant, according to the company, but the recall has been issued “out of an abundance of caution.” Nor have any consumers contacted the General Mills directly to report any illnesses, the Minneapolis-based company added.

U.S. health authorities are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O121 that stretched from December 21 to May 3. This particular strain can cause bloody diarrhea, and dehydration, and potentially death in compromised groups like the elderly, very young, and those with immune diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about one quarter of the 38 sickened people reported cooking with General Mills’ brand flour before becoming ill, the company reported.

Additional recall information can be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.