General Mills recalls flour due to salmonella contamination
General Mills has recalled two types of Gold Medal flour after it discovered salmonella in a five-pound sample of the product, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The recall announced Friday covers Gold Medal unbleached and bleached all-purpose flour with a “best if used by”[ads1]; date of March 27, 2024 or March 28, 2024. No other types of Gold Medal flour are affected. The company advised consumers to check their pantries and discard any product affected by the recall.
The recall notice did not link General Mills flour to any reports of illness. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has investigated an 11-state salmonella outbreak in which most of the 12 sick people reported eating raw dough or mixing it with flour before getting sick. “Investigators are working to identify a specific brand of flour linked to illnesses,” the CDC wrote in a March 23 advisory.
Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of animals, such as birds, and can be transmitted to humans when animal faeces enter the food supply. Although some infected individuals have no symptoms, most develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps approximately eight to 72 hours after exposure. Most healthy people recover within a few days, but serious complications can sometimes require medical treatment. The latest outbreak resulted in three hospitalizations.
The FDA has warned consumers against eating ingredients made with flour. Although salmonella can be killed by the heat from cooking or baking, the CDC advises parents not to let children handle raw dough or cake mix.
