A Gold Medal Flour Salmonella Infantis outbreak has sickened at least 13 people in 12 states, according to the FDA. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. General Mills recalled two types of its flour on April 28, 2023 because Salmonella Infantis, the same strain as the pathogen that has sickened people, was found in one type of that flour. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). The last illness onset date was March 1, 2023. This case count is almost identical to the one the CDC posted on March 30, 2023, about a Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to an unnamed brand of flour, with 12 sick in 11 states. … [Read more...]
Gold Medal Unbleached Flour Recalled For E. coli O26 Contamination
General Mills is recalling five pound bags of Gold Medal unbleached flour with a "better if used by" date of September 6, 2020 for possible E. coli O26 contamination. No "direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product" have been received to date. The pathogen was found during routine sampling. The UPC number on the product is 016000 196100. Just this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour in five pound bags, 06SEP2020KC, is recalled. All other types of Gold Medal flour are not affected by this recall. Check your pantry to see if you have this flour. If so, throw it away in a sealed container in a secure garbage can with a tight fitting lid so other people and animals can't access it. You can also take it back to the place of purchase … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Outbreak Linked to General Mills Flour Highlights Risk of Raw Flour
Consumption of raw flour can lead to E. coli HUS infections, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, titled "Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) Infections Associated with Flour," looks at the 2016 outbreak linked to recalled General Mills flour. That outbreak was caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O21 and O26 bacteria. The CDC investigation ended on September 29, 2016 and stated that "Although the outbreak investigation is over, illnesses are expected to continue for some time. The recalled flour and flour products have long shelf lives and may still be in people's homes. Consumers who don't know about the recalls could continue to eat the products and get sick." At least 63 people in 24 states were infected with the outbreak … [Read more...]
Top 10 Food Poisoning Stories of 2016
These are the top 10 food stories of 2016. We chose them based on the impact they had on the food world and on the people who were sickened in outbreaks, and on how they changed how we look at our food supply. Many of these outbreaks were uncovered by the PulseNet system, a national database of food poisoning illnesses. All of these outbreaks serve as a reminder that everyone needs to be careful about the foods they eat, about where they eat foods, and the importance of thorough handwashing. And this list is a reminder that food companies need to be held accountable when the foods they produce make people sick. 10. Petting Zoo Outbreaks Petting zoo outbreaks became common a few years ago, when a huge outbreak sickened more than 100 people at the Cleveland County Fair in North … [Read more...]
Third Largest Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreak of 2016: General Mills E. coli
The third largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2016 was the E. coli outbreak linked to recalled recalled Gold Medal flour. Sixty-three people in 24 states were sickened after eating raw dough made with the flour. Seventeen people were hospitalized in this outbreak. The CDC states that "although the outbreak investigation is over, illnesses are expected to continue for some time." The flour has a long shelf life and some of it is most likely still in consumer's homes. And since flour spreads so easily, cross-contamination between the flour and other ingredients and surfaces is inevitable. Seventeen of those sickened were hospitalized because their illnesses were so serious. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No one died in this … [Read more...]
After General Mills E. coli Outbreak, Say No to Raw Dough!
The large E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to recalled General Mills flour sickened 63 people in 24 states this year. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as a complication of that illness. And many of those sickened got sick because they ate raw cookie dough. So the CDC is warning consumers not to eat raw cookie dough, cake mixes, or bread this holiday season, even if you are using pasteurized eggs. Raw flour is a raw agricultural product that has not been treated to kill pathogenic bacteria. And since flour has a long shelf life, that recalled General Mills flour could still be in people's homes. Please check the list of recalled products and make sure you don't have one of those flour types in your pantry. The recall was expanded once, and there have been some … [Read more...]
Strange Secondary Recall for Trout Made with General Mills Flour
A strange recall has been issued for trout filets that were apparently made with recalled General Mills flour. That flour was recalled this summer after at least 63 people in 24 states were sickened with E. coli O121 and O26 that were linked to that product. General Mills issued three different recalls over the summer, and five secondary recalls were issued from corporations that made products with the flour. The only retail facility to issue a recall is Schnucks. The FDA does not have any notice of this recall on their site as of October 10, 2016. A press release from Clear Spring Foods, issued on October 7, 2016 was published in EPR Retail News. That notice states that Sun-Dried Tomato & Roasted Garlic Trout was recalled because the flour used in the breading may be … [Read more...]
General Mills Flour E. coli Outbreak Investigation Ends
The E. coli O121 and O26 outbreak linked to recalled Gold Medal flour from General Mills is over, according to the CDC, but the government expects illnesses to continue for some time. These products have long shelf lives and may still be in consumers' homes. A list of the recalled products and how to identify them is at the CDC web site. The recalled products include several varieties of Gold Medal flour, along with brownie and cake mixes, bread mixes, muffin mixes, pancake and biscuit mixes, and meat and poultry products that were made with the recalled flours. A total of 63 people in 24 states have been infected so far. Seventeen of those people were hospitalized for their illnesses. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths were reported in this outbreak. … [Read more...]
Rabbit Creek Bread, Brownie and Muffin Mixes Recalled for E. coli
Rabbit Creek Products of Louisburg, KS has issued a recall for bread, muffin and brownie mixes that may be contaminated with E. coli. Click the preceding link to see the long list of recalled products. Consumers who have purchased these products should not use them as E. coli can cause serious illness. The recalled mixes, sold under Rabbit Creek and other brand names, contain flour made by General Mills that has been linked to an E. coli outbreak. Two outbreak strains, E.coli O26 and E. coli O121 have sickened 46 people. Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramping and diarrhea that can be bloody. These symptoms usually develop one to three days after exposure and last about a week. Anyone who has eaten a product containing the recalled flours and develops these … [Read more...]
Five Minnesotans Sickened in General Mills Flour E. coli Outbreak
Five people in Minnesota have been sickened in the E. coli O121 and O26 outbreak linked to recalled General Mills flour. The outbreak case count now includes 46 people in 21 states. Thirteen of those ill persons have been hospitalized. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, and no deaths have been reported. Laboratory, traceback, and epidemiologic evidence indicate that flour produced at the General Mills facility in Kansas City, Missouri is a "likely source" of this outbreak. Two strains of E. coli bacteria have been found in the flour; E. coli O121 and E. coli O26. General Mills has expanded its recall of flour produced at that mill twice to include more production dates. Please look carefully at the list of recalled products to see if you purchased any. If you … [Read more...]
