Salmonella outbreak linked to Gold Medal flour

The recall is being issued for the potential presence of Salmonella Infantis …

Mega food producer General Mills announcing the recall of certain types of Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour.

What To Know: General Mills recalled certain types of Gold Medal flour because of concerns regarding Salmonella, which is a type of bacteria that can make people sick. Children under the age of 5, adults 65 years old and older, and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to get severe infections from the bacteria. People in at least 12 states have reported illnesses tied to the bleached and unbleached flour.

Worth Noting: The FDA and General Mills advise people with the recalled flour to throw it away or return it to the store for a refund. Just an FYI: "Salmonella is killed by heat through baking, frying or boiling products made with flour” (The Associated Press).

The recall applies to these products: "… two-, five- and 10-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with a 'better if used by' date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024."

For more about the recall: FDA and General Mills announcement.

In response to a SmartHER News question about whether baking would "kill" the bacteria, the CDC shared the following:

• Do not use any recalled flour. Throw it away or return it to where you bought it.
• If you stored recalled flour in another container, throw the flour away and wash the container thoroughly with warm water and soap before using it again.
• Bake
• Always bake or cook food made with any brand of raw flour, like cookie dough or cake batter, before eating it. Do not bake or cook recalled flour.
• Follow the recipe or package instructions for cooking or baking flour that hasn’t been recalled. Use the temperature and cooking time given in the recipe or instructions.
• Buy heat-treated flour to use in recipes for homemade playdough.
• Clean
• Wash any bowls, utensils, and surfaces that touched raw flour with warm water and soap.
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap before and after using raw flour.
• Separate
• Keep raw flour, dough, and batter separate from foods that won’t be cooked.
• Call a healthcare provider right away if you or your child have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:
• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
• Bloody diarrhea
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
• Not peeing much
• Dry mouth and throat
• Feeling dizzy when standing up

For additional information: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/infantis-03-23/index.html