Gold Medal Unbleached Flour Recalled Over E. coli Risk

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour has recently been recalled due to potential contamination with E. coli.

On Sept. 16, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that General Mills would be recalling their 5 pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour.

The recall reportedly spans 300 tons or 120,000 bags of flour. Other types of Gold Medal Flour are reportedly not affected by the recall.

“We issued this recall as a precaution,” said General Mills’ spokesman Mike Siemienas, according to Consumer Reports. “Even though these natural occurrences of contamination are not something that we can prevent completely, if we have reason to believe due to random testing that a particular batch may have E. coli, we will recall the product.”

Bags included in the recall can be identified by package UPC 016000 196100 and date code 06SEP2020KC, indicating that the product is “better if used by” Sept. 6, 2020.

These bags of were reportedly tested during sampling which revealed the presence of E. coli 026, a “potentially deadly” strain of the bacteria. General Mills has reportedly not received any reports of illness related to their flour products.

Most strains of the E. coli bacteria are harmless and can be found in the intestines of healthy people and animals. However, some strains (including the strain reportedly found in the Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour) can cause serious digestive problems.

These strains can be found in water and food, with exposure commonly stemming from raw or undercooked vegetables and ground beef. Although an E. coli infection is usually associated with these food items, the bacteria can reportedly contaminate flour products if the sourced wheat comes into contact with animal waste during the growing process.

When someone is infected with the harmful strains of E. coli, they may suffer from severe abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting within three or four days of exposure. Most people recover from the infection within a week with only dehydration as a possible complication. However, young people and older adults may be at risk for a life threatening type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

In order to prevent E. coli infection, the FDA and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers do not consume raw products made with flour. Baking, frying, sautéing, or boiling flour products will kill the bacteria, but raw products could prove harmful.

If consumers have purchased 5 pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour, the FDA has directed them to dispose of the products. Consumers who were forced to dispose recalled products can contact General Mills at 1-800-230-8103.

In May, the CDC warned the public about several other flour brands which may be contaminated with E. coli 026.

According to CNN, this earlier recall reportedly included flour products from King Arthur, Pillsbury, and ALDI’s Baker’s Corner brands.

Between December 2018 and May 2019, at least 21 people from nine state were reportedly infected with the bacteria strain. Luckily, the outbreak was called off in July 2019.

UPDATE: On Oct. 3, 2019, the FDA announced that King Arthur Flour would also be recalled over a risk of E. coli. 

Are you affected by the Gold Medal flour recall? Let us know in the comment section below.

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