Massive Bakery Goods Recall Involving Metal and E Coli

The E. Coli recalls are not over yet, folks! While flour isn't chocolate, we use flour in so many of our chocolatey treats that I felt I needed to share it with you. After this listing keep reading because a massive 30 product recall has also been issued that you need to be aware of and this one involves metal in the food. Remember! Only by being aware can you protect your family and yourself from foodborne illnesses and foreign objects in your food.

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General Mills Expands Retail Flour Recall

Consumers are reminded not to eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour

Due to four new confirmed illnesses, General Mills is adding additional flour production dates to the previously announced U.S. retail flour recall that was originally announced on May 31, 2016. The illnesses reported to health officials continue to be connected with consumers reporting that they ate or handled uncooked dough or ate uncooked batter made with raw flour. No illnesses have been connected with flour that has been properly baked, cooked or handled.

The addition of new flour production dates is the result of General Mills conducting proactive flour testing and new information from health officials who are using new whole genome sequencing techniques to trace illnesses. E.coli (several sub-types) has been detected in a small number of General Mills flour samples and some have been linked to new patient illnesses that fell outside of the previously recalled dates.

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. The newer detection and genome sequencing tools are also possibly making a connection to flour that may have always existed at these levels.

“As a leader in flour production for 150 years, General Mills is committed to convening experts to work with government officials to learn more and create new protocols, if needed,” said General Mills President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Harmening. “Most importantly, we want all the avid home bakers out there to have peace of mind and know the most important thing they can do to keep safe is to not eat uncooked flour.”

Flour is a raw ingredient that is intended to be cooked or baked.  Flour is made from wheat that is grown outdoors where bacteria are often present and the normal flour milling process does not remove these bacteria.

In order for severe E. coli illness to occur from flour, all three of the following things have to happen:

The flour a consumer is using has to contain the rare sub-types of E.coli that can make you sick.

The consumer has to eat raw dough, batter or other uncooked food made with the flour, or handle the raw dough and not wash their hands.

The consumer’s individual health characteristics will impact if they get sick and how severely. Some consumers have mild symptoms and others get very sick. It is not always known who will get sick and who will not.

Previously announced recalled flour production dates ranged from November 4, 2015 through December 4, 2015. The expansion announced today includes select production dates through February 10, 2016. The new recall applies only to the specific product and date codes listed below.

13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra

Package UPC 000-16000-18980

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 14MAY2017PK

2lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10710

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 18JUN2017KC, 01AUG2017KC, 13AUG2017KC through 21AUG2017KC

10lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10410

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 18JUN2017KC, 01AUG2017KC

5lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 18JUN2017KC, 01AUG2017KC, 13AUG2017KC through 21AUG2017KC

5lb Gold Medal Self Rising Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-11610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 27OCT2016KC

4.25lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-12670

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 01AUG2017KC, 19AUG2017KC, 20AUG2017KC, 21AUG2017KC

5lb Gold Medal Unbleached Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-19610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 01AUG2017KC, 14AUG2017KC, 15AUG2017KC, 16AUG2017KC, 17AUG2017KC, 19AUG2017KC, 20AUG2017KC

2lb Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached

Package UPC 000-21130-53000

Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB 15 AUG 2017, BB 16 AUG 2017

5lb Signature Kitchens Unbleached Flour All Purpose Enriched

Package UPC 000-21130-53022

Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB 01 AUG 2017

Consumers are asked to throw away any flour in their possession that is part of this recall. A full list of retail products included in the flour recall since May 31, 2016 can be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.

Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some strains of E. coli create potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) can be found on the FDA website and the CDC website.

Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

Consumers with questions or requesting replacement product should contact General Mills at 1-800-230-8103. Consumer information can also be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.

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 Weis Markets Voluntary Recall for 30 Bakery Products

Sunbury, PA – Weis Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for 30 bakery products including muffins, cookies, shortbread and baked bread items due to the potential presence of small metal fragments (2-9mm) in the sugar topping used on these products. This voluntary action is being taken due to our supplier’s recall of the sugar ingredient. Foodborne foreign objects that are not hard and sharp and less than or equal to 7mm in length may cause minor injuries such as temporary reflexive choking and irritation of the gastrointestinal system. Weis Markets has received no reports of adverse reactions or injuries due to consumption of these products to date.

The muffins are packaged in a plastic medium salad container. The loaf bread and cookies are packaged in a plastic hinged container, and the Irish soda bread is packaged in a plastic bag. The sell by date can be found at the bottom of the scale label affixed to the packaging. Products included in this recall were distributed in Weis Markets’ stores, specific product names and information are listed below.