All-purpose flour recalled

The recall of the General Mills five-pound Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour product is being issued due to the potential presence of E. coli O26 (Escherichia coli), discovered during sampling of the bags.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour. 

E. coli O26, which is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause diarrhoea, dehydration and sickness, is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour, so raw flour can be dangerous. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

The elderly, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

The products being recalled have a ‘use by date’ of the 6^th September 2020 (package UPC 016000 196100) and they are the only date code affected by this recall.

Consumers are asked to dispose of the product and those who have had to discard products may contact General Mills Consumer Relations.

Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O26 is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

General Mills has, so far, not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product.