General Mills Recalls Gold Medal Flour for Possible Salmonella Risk
Not even our precious baked goods are safe from foodborne illness, it seems. This week, General Mills recalled one particular variety of Gold Medal flour for possibly containing salmonella, according to a statement.
Salmonella was discovered during sampling of five-pound bags of flour, prompting the recall, which specifically affects five-pound bags of unbleached Gold Medal flour with a "best by" date of April 20, 2020. No other types of Gold Medal flour are being recalled, and no illnesses have been reported in connection with the flour.
"Food safety is our top priority, and though we have not had any confirmed illnesses, we are voluntarily recalling this specific lot of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour to prevent potential illnesses," Jim Murphy, president of General Mills Meals and Baking Division, said in the statement. "This recall does not involve any other flour products."
Eggs aren't the only reason to avoid eating raw dough or batter—flour can carry pathogens, too.
Flour can carry bacteria like E. coli and, yes, salmonella, which can make you sick if you eat it, SELF explained previously. Luckily, heating flour during the baking process is usually enough to kill it.
But that doesn't mean you should go ahead and use potentially contaminated flour in your cakes and cookies—salmonella can be serious business, and it's just not worth the risk. A salmonella infection usually causes symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after the bacteria is ingested, according to the CDC. Although most healthy adults will be able to recover from a salmonella infection without much fuss within a week, young children, elderly adults, and people with chronic health issues or weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe symptoms or complications that could require hospitalization.
If you do have some recalled flour in your pantry, don't use it. Either get rid of it or return to your point of purchase for a refund. "We are continuing to educate consumers that flour is not a 'ready to eat' ingredient," Murphy said in the statement. "Anything you make with flour must be cooked or baked before eating."
Related:
