General Mills is recalling five pound bags of Gold Medal unbleached flour for possible Salmonella contamination. This is another reminder to not eat raw cookie dough or batter, because both the flour and eggs may be, and have been, contaminated with pathogenic bacteria.
The recall is for one date code; the better if used by date is April 20, 2020. There have been no “direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses” related to this product. The recall only affects this one date code. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.
The recalled product is Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Five Pound Flour, with UPC number 000-16000-19610-0. The Better If Used B\y Date is 20APR2020KC.
Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the recalled flour. If you have decanted flour into another container, get rid of it too, then clean the container thoroughly with soap and water. The costa of flour is minimal compared to the cost of a Salmonella infection. It’s a good idea to also clean your pantry with soap and water, since flour can easily spread everywhere.
The FDA and CDC continue to warn consumers not to eat any raw products made with flour. Don’t make flour doughs for your kids to play with either. Salmonella bacteria is only killed with heat, through frying, sautéing, boiling, or baking products made with flour. Make sure that you clean utensils, surfaces, and your hands after working with any type of flour.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that may be bloody. If you do experience these symptoms, see your doctor. A more serious illness, called salmonellosis, can be caused by the infection getting into the bloodstream. And long term complications of this illness can include endocarditis and reactive arthritis.
