Salmonella outbreak leads to nationwide voluntary recall of flour

On Friday, General Mills voluntarily issued a nationwide recall after a salmonella outbreak was linked to certain 2-pound, 5-pound, and 10-pound bags of Gold Medal Bleached and Unbleached All-Purpose Flour.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 people infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella have been reported from 12 states. Three people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. None of the infections were in Hawai‘i. The true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreaks may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.

The recall is for flour with bags with “Better if Used By” dates of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024. The recalled products include the following Package Universal Product Codes (UPC):

• Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5 lb bag) 000-16000-19610
• Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (10 lb bag) 000-16000-19580
• Gold Medal Bleached All-Purpose Flour (2 lb bag) 000-16000-10710
• Gold Medal Bleached All-Purpose Flour (5 lb bag) 000-16000-10610

Those in possession of the affected flour should not eat, sell, or bake with the recalled product. Throw it away or return it to where you bought it. Wash surfaces and containers that may have touched the recalled flour using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other parts of the body. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.