For the fourth time since May 31, General Mills expanded its recall of flour because of illnesses linked to handling or eating uncooked flour dough and batter. The company said E. coli bacteria, which can cause food-borne illness, “has been detected in a small number of … flour samples and some have been linked to new patient illnesses that fall outside of the previously recalled dates.”
Four new cases have been reported, said General Mills. “At this time, it is unknown if we are experiencing a higher prevalence of E.coli in flour than normal, if this is an issue isolated to General Mills’ flour, or if this is an issue across the flour industry.”
Some 46 illnesses have been reported, but no deaths, said the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The new recall includes flour ground early this year at General Mills’ large Kansas City mill.
When the recall began on May 31, General Mills said 38 illnesses due to E. coli O121 had been reported to health officials and potentially tied to three of its product lines. Many strains of E. coli are harmless but E. coli O121 can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
“Illnesses have not come from properly baked or cooked flour,” said General Mills. “Do not eat uncooked dough or batter made with flour. Flour is made from wheat that is grown outdoors where bacteria are often present. Flour is typically not treated to kill bacteria during the normal milling process.”
Consumers should discard flour subject to the recall, said General Mills.
For the list of products covered by the recall, click here.