Several types of Gold Medal flour recalled after salmonella outbreak was reported

Howard Cohen

General Mills announced a national recall of its 2-, 5- and 10-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with several date codes.

The recall triggered after the company’s sampling of its 5-pound bag found salmonella infantis.

A national salmonella outbreak linked to flour that sickened 12 people in 11 states between December and February has been under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the CDC reported on March 30.

The General Mills recall posted on Friday does not say if there is a link.

The April 28 recall affects the aforementioned size bags with a “better if used by” date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024.

All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

Why salmonella is a concern

Salmonella bacteria causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States annually, according to the CDC. Food is the usual source.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps and usually start six hours to six days after infection and last four days to a week.

Most people recover without treatment, the CDC says.

What you should do

General Mills announced a national recall on April 28, 2023, of its 2-, 5- and 10-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with several date codes.
General Mills announced a national recall on April 28, 2023, of its 2-, 5- and 10-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with several date codes.

Check your General Mills Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour bags.

This recall includes the following codes and date markings:

▪ Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5 LB Flour

Package UPC code 000-16000-19610

Better if Used by Date 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

▪ Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 10 LB Flour

Package UPC code 000-16000-19580

Better if Used by Date 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

▪ Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 2 LB Flour

Package UPC code 000-16000-10710

Better if Used by Date 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

▪ Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 5 LB Flour

Package UPC code 000-16000-10610

Better if Used by Date 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024.

If you have any of these bags in your pantries toss them or return for a refund. If you can’t get a refund and had to discard call General Mills Consumer Relations at 800-230-8103.

The FDA and CDC warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour.

“Salmonella infantis is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.”

Salmonella flour outbreak

This CDC map shows where the 12 people in a salmonella outbreak from contaminated flour between December 2022 and February 2023 lived. The map was posted on March 30, 2023.
This CDC map shows where the 12 people in a salmonella outbreak from contaminated flour between December 2022 and February 2023 lived. The map was posted on March 30, 2023.

As of March 30, the 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella was reported in 11 states between Dec. 6, 2022, to Feb. 13, 2023. The 11 states included New York, California, Virginia and Tennessee, with one illness apiece, and Illinois with two people reporting sickness from salmonella related to flour.

Florida was not listed as one of the states but the FDA notes that the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses and “the true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported.”

That’s because most people don’t report, or seek treatment, for salmonella.

Of those that did in this outbreak, the sick ranged in age from 12 to 81 years, with a median age of 64, and 92% were female. Three were hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, according to the FDA.

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