General Mills on Friday expanded the dates of its national flour recall after reports of new E. coli cases linked to its products.
On May 31, the Golden Valley-based food company voluntarily recalled Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour made at a Kansas City facility between Nov. 12 and Dec. 4. Following new reports of people being sickened after handing or eating raw dough made with flour produced further back in the fall, General Mill stretched the window back to Nov. 4.
In the last month, the number of reported illnesses linked to the flour bacteria has risen from 38 to 42, including three people in Minnesota, across 21 states. Eleven people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration say E. coli 0121 is a less common, and potentially deadly, strain that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Elderly people and young children have a higher risk of foodborne illness.
General Mills is working with the federal agencies to investigate the contamination. Gold Medal is the top-selling retail flour brand in the U.S.
Consumers can check if their flour is under recall based using codes listed on their packages at www.generalmills.com/flour.
Kristen Leigh Painter • 612-673-4767
