General Mills Recalls Flour Products

General Mills has recalled about 10 million pounds of flour after a recent E. coli outbreak prompted some concern.

Between Dec. 21, 2015 and May 3, 2016, there have been 38 cases of a specific type of the illness (E. coli O121) spread out across 20 different states. A General Mills statement says O121 may be linked to Gold Medal, Wondra and Signature Kitchens brands.

In their investigation, the Centers for Disease Control discovered that about half of the individuals who became sick made something homemade with flour. According to the release, some reported using General Mills brands.

The company says E. coli O121 has not been found in any General Mills products or in their flour manufacturing facility to this point. They also say there has not been any direct contact from customers about sickness from their products.

“As a leading provider of flour for 150 years, we felt it was important to not only recall the product and replace it for consumers if there was any doubt, but also to take this opportunity to remind our consumers how to safely handle flour,” said Liz Nordlie, president of General Mills Baking division.

General Mills says consumers should not be eating raw dough or batter. After flour has been produced from outdoor wheat milling, it comes with a risk of bacteria that can be present in early stages of cooking.

E. coli 0121 is potentially deadly, according to the General Mills release, and can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, young people and those with compromised immune systems are the most likely to contract the illness.

Consumers are also reminded to contact a physician if there are any concerns about the illness.

Contact the Author Jackson Brunner

jbrunner@lptv.org