Conagra Brands is recalling several types of Duncan Hines cake mixes after five people were sickened with Salmonella Agbeni infections. The FDA announced that a sample of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix that contained Salmonella Agbeni matched the Salmonella collected from ill persons.
Strangely, the recall notice states that “While it has not been definitively concluded that this product is linked to the outbreak and the investigation is still ongoing, Conagra has decided to voluntarily recall the specific Duncan Hines variety identified (Classic White) and three other varieties (Classic Butter Golden, Signature Confetti and Classic Yellow) made during the same time period out of an abundance of caution.”
We don’t know much about the patients in this outbreak. We don’t know their ages, where they live, when they got sick, or if anyone has been hospitalized.
Several of the patients said they consumed a cake mix before they got sick. Some may have also consumed these products raw and not baked. This is a good reminder to not eat raw batter because the flour and eggs in that product can be contaminated. Consumers are also reminded to avoid cross-contamination between potentially contaminated products and surfaces in the kitchen.
The recalled products are all 15.25 ounce sizes. They include Duncan Hines White Cake Mix with UPC number 644209307500 and best if used by dates of MAR 7 2019, MAR 8 2019, MAR 9 2019, MAR 10 2019, MAR 12 2019, and MAR 13 2019; Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix with UPC number 644209307494 and best if used by dates of MAR 9 2019, MAR 10 2019, MAR 12 2019, and MAR 13 2019; Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake Mix with UPC number 644209307593 and best if used by dates MAR 7 2019, MAR 8 2019, and MAR 9 2019; and Duncan Hines Signature Confetti Cake Mix with UPC number 644209414550 and best if used by dates MAR 12 2019 and MAR 13 2019.
Check your cupboards and pantry to see if you have any of these cake mixes. If you bought any of these Duncan Hines Cake Mixes, don’t use them. You can take them back to the place of purchase or you can throw them away in a sealed package. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these products.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. If you have Duncan Hines Cake Mixes in your home and have been ill, see your doctor. Even after you recover from this infection you could have serious health complications in the future, such as endocarditis and high blood pressure.
