The risks of uncooked flour have been well documented through studies and food poisoning outbreaks linked to that ingredient. But many recipes, especially older ones, call for using flour that is not cooked. To be able to make these recipes without the risk of food poisoning, many sites have been advocating that home cooks treat their own flour. But a Purdue researcher says that home treated flour may not be safe after all. The typical "recipe" for treating raw flour at home is to spread it on a pan and microwave it or bake it in the oven until it reaches 160°F, the temperature at which E. coli and other pathogens are destroyed. Purdue food scientist Yoahua "Betty" Feng states that those treatments are not guaranteed to make the flour safe. She says that while heating meats or … [Read more...]
Avoid Making and Serving These Potentially Dangerous Holiday Foods
Every year people are sickened by certain types of foods. Avoid making and serving these potentially dangerous holiday foods this season. Some are inherently dangerous, and others are easily contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The potentially harmful foods include cannibal sandwiches, raw cookie dough, eggnog, unpasteurized cider, and raw oysters. Cannibal sandwiches are sandwiches made with raw ground beef. They are a specialty in some areas of the Midwest United States. In 2013, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Wisconsin was associated with the seasonal consumption of these sandwiches. Raw ground beef is inherently risky, because cows carry pathogenic STEC bacteria in their guts. When the cows are slaughtered, the bacteria are released and can contaminate the beef. When this beef … [Read more...]
Again, Just Say No to Raw Dough During the Holidays
It's that time of the year again. People bake a lot during the holiday season, so it's time for another reminder: Just say no to raw dough. It's important that consumers not eat raw dough or batter of any kind unless the dough is made with pasteurized eggs and heat treated flour. Don't even taste a tiny amount. Those two ingredients can be contaminated with potentially deadly pathogens and in fact have caused many illnesses. Raw cookie dough and raw cake batter are the biggest culprits, but homemade play dough and play clay made with flour has also made children sick. Eggs are often contaminated with Salmonella bacteria; in fact, hens can carry the pathogen inside their ovaries. That means the eggs are contaminated on the inside so washing them won't help. And uncooked flour is a … [Read more...]
Food Allergens Can Become Airborne: How to Handle the Risk
Food Poisoning Bulletin constantly reports on food recalls for the eight major food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, fin fish, shellfish, wheat, eggs, and soy. Those eight allergens together cause at least 30,000 emergency room visits, 2000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths in the U.S. every year. Recently we became aware that some foodborne allergens can become airborne. Some of the allergens are more of a risk than others. For instance, peanut allergens usually do not become airborne, and allergic reactions are not triggered from peanut butter vapors, according to a study published in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Since peanuts allergies are typically more severe and more likely to trigger anaphylactic shock, this is a relief. Some other food … [Read more...]
Tips For Handling Flour Safely to Avoid Food Poisoning
When an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 2009 was linked to the flour used in prepackaged cookie dough, many people were shocked. How could flour, which seems so innocuous, actually be contaminated with such a serious pathogen? Flour is dry. It seems inert and safe. But flour is a raw agricultural product, and can be contaminated with pathogens just like romaine lettuce. Learn some tips for handling flour safely to avoid food poisoning. Flour is so ubiquitous in the kitchen that many people don't give it a second thought. But an E. coli O26 outbreak last year linked to Aldi's Baker's Corner, Pillsbury bread, and King Arthur Flour sickened 21 people in 6 states. And in 2016, an E. coli O121 and O26 outbreak linked to recalled General Mills flour sickened 63 people in 24 states. Not … [Read more...]
It’s National Pizza Week: Are Pizzas Linked to Outbreaks?
It's National Pizza Week! Have pizzas been linked to any food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S.? The answer is yes. The ingredients in pizza that could be problematic include flour in the dough, cheeses, produce such as leafy greens, and any type of meat toppings. But since pizzas are usually cooked so thoroughly, how can people get sick? There are three answers to that question: handling the pizzas before they are cooked, cross-contamination, and microwave cooking. Raw dough is considered a risky food, since flour used to make it has long been associated with E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks, from the Nestle raw cookie dough outbreak in 2009, to the General Mills flour E. coli outbreak in 2016 that sickened 63, to the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to ADM Milling flour last year that … [Read more...]
Learn How to Handle Flour Safely in Holiday Baking to Avoid Illness
It's time to make Christmas and Hanukah desserts, including cookies, cakes, and pies. Everyone should learn how to handle flour safely during the holiday baking time with tips from the FDA. Flour is a raw food. Most people don't realize that because it is processed, but it's a raw agricultural product. Wheat is grown outdoors, and can be exposed to many different types of pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella. Unfortunately, processing raw grains into flour doesn't kill these pathogens. Eggs, too, are another health risk. Raw eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella; in fact, there have been quite a few food poisoning outbreaks over the years linked to eating raw or undercooked eggs. As with flour, cooking to a safe final temperature is the only way to destroy pathogens on … [Read more...]
Wild Harvest Organic Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli
UNFI is recalling five pound bags of its Wild Harvest Organic Flour for possible E. coli contamination. The pathogen was fond during routine sampling of this product. There have not been any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product. The recall is for Wild Harvest Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached. the package UPC number is 711535509158 and the best if used by date is AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58. These numbers can be found on top of the product label. This recall only affects this one code date of the flour currently in stores or in consumers' pantries. Check your pantry to see if you have purchased this flour. If you have, or if you have decanted the flour into another container and no longer have the label, discard it. Throw it away after … [Read more...]
Hodgson Mill Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli Contamination
Hodgson Mill flour recalled for possible E. coli contamination. Hodgson Mill of Effingham, Illinois is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The potential presence of pathogenic E. coli was found when sampling raw uncooked flour. No reports of illness associated with the consumption of this product have been received to date. The recalled product is Hodgson Mill Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The UPC number on the product is 0-71518-05009-2. The best by dates printed on the packages are 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020, and the lot codes are 001042 and 005517. The use by and lot code information are on the bottom back panel of the bag. This recall is, again, a good reminder not to eat … [Read more...]
King Arthur Expands Recall of Unbleached Flour For E. coli O26
King Arthur Flour. is expanding its June 13, 2019 recall of its Unbleached All Purpose Flour in 5 pound and 25 pound packages for possible E. coli O26 contamination. No confirmed illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this recall. The flour was milled at an ADM Milling facility in Buffalo, New York. It The recalled product is Unbleached All-Purpose Flour packaged in 5 pound and 25 pound packages with specific best used by dates and lot codes. The 5 pound packages were sold was sold by King Arthur Flour through retailers nationwide and also through the company's website, catalogue, and store in Norwich, Vermont. You can see the long list of dates and codes of the recalled products at the FDA web site. The 5 pound packages have the UPC number … [Read more...]
