King Arthur Adds Additional Lots to Flour to E. coli Recall from Early October

King Arthur is forced to expand it recall of flour again as it supplier, ADM Milling, notified the company that three additional product lot codes of 5lb bags of unbleached all-purpose flour were omitted on the original date provided.  This comes after a month from the expanded recall date of October 3, 2019.  The earlier recall was due to positive E. coli O26 testing in a sample.  There have been no illnesses.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/king-arthur-flour-updates-three-lot-codes-voluntarily-recalled-unbleached-all-purpose-flour-5-lb
King Arthur Flour Updates Three Lot Codes of Voluntarily Recalled Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5 lb.)
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 01, 2019 

FDA Publish Date: November 01, 2019

Product Type: Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement: E. coli O26
Company Name:King Arthur Flour, Inc.

Brand Name: King Arthur Flour
Product Description:  Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

King Arthur Expands Recall of Flour After Testing Finds E. coli Contamination

In association with ADM Milling Company, King Arthur Flour, Inc.,is expanding its recall to include specific lots of its Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5 lb. & 25 lb.) after sampling found E. coli 026. King Arthur Flour has not received any confirmed reports of illnesses related to this product.  No illness have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/association-adm-milling-co-king-arthur-flour-inc-expands-recall-unbleached-all-purpose-flour-5-lb-25
In Association with ADM Milling Co, King Arthur Flour, Inc. Expands Recall of Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5 Lb & 25 Lb)
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 03, 2019
FDA Publish Date: October 03, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement: E. coli O26
Company Name: King Arthur Flour, Inc.
Brand Name: King Arthur Flour
Product Description: Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Bags of Flour Recalled After Sample Test Positive for E. coli

General Mills announced today a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with a better if used by date of September 6, 2020. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli O26 which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product.  No illnesses have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/general-mills-recalls-five-pound-bags-gold-medal-unbleached-all-purpose-flour
General Mills Recalls Five Pound Bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour

Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 16, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  September 16, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  E. coli O26
Company Name:  General Mills
Brand Name:  Gold Medal
Product Description:  Unbleached All Purpose Flour

FDA Provides Update on E. coli Outbreak Linked to Flour, More Product Added to Recall

FDA released an update on the outbreak investigation into the illnesses cased by E. coli linked to flour.  There have been 17 cases so far, with the last one occurring mid-April.

Another company was added to those issued a flour related recall due to this.  Brand Castle is recalling cookie and brownie mixes.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o26-linked-adm-milling-co-flour-may-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. Coli O26 Linked to ADM Milling Co. Flour, May 2019

Additional recall linked to ADM Milling Co. flour; Brand Castle, LLC announces recall of several cookie and brownie mixes due to potentially contaminated flour

Case Counts

• Total Illnesses: 17
•  Hospitalizations: 3
•  Deaths: 0
•  Last illness onset: April 18, 2019

More Flour Recalled Due to Potential E. coli Contamination

Two specific lot codes of its Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour  were recalled due to a potential presence of pathogenic E. coli. The product was manufactured by ADM Milling Co., at the company’s mill in Buffalo, NY.  :Approximately 4,620 cases of impacted Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour were distributed to a limited number of retailers and distributors across the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia."

ADM flour with potential E.coli contamination was also involved in recent recalls under brands foe Aldi and King Author Flour.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cooperation-adm-milling-co-hometown-food-company-issues-voluntary-recall-specific-lot-codes
In Cooperation with ADM Milling Co., Hometown Food Company Issues Voluntary Recall of Specific Lot Codes Pillsbury® Best Bread Flour Due to Possible Health Risk

Summary

Company Announcement Date: June 14, 2019

FDA Publish Date: June 14, 2019

Product Type: Food & Beverages 

Bakery Product/Mix

Reason for Announcement: E.coli

Company Name: Hometown Food Company

Brand Name: Pillsbury BEST

Product Description: Flour

FDA Issues Recall Notice on Flour Recall for Salmonella

After reports of Pillsbury Flour was issued last week, FDA issued an announcement on March 12th, that Hometown Food Company initiated a limited, voluntary retail-level recall on two specific lot codes of its Pillsbury® Unbleached All-Purpose 5 lb Flour (UPC 51500-22241)because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.  There have been no reports of any illnesses associated with this recall. Product is being recalled out of an abundance of caution.

No specific information was provided on how the contamination was detected.

FDA added the reminder that flour is a raw product - "Flour is made from wheat that is minimally processed. Flour should not be considered a ready-to-eat product. It is an ingredient for baked, fried, and cooked products, and these heating processes ensure the safety of flour with proper handling. All surfaces and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or uncooked dough or batter. Consumers should wash their hands after handling flour or uncooked dough or batter. Consumers should not eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour. If you think you became sick from a food containing flour as an ingredient, please call your healthcare provider."

Hometown Food Company Recalls Two Production LOT Codes of Pillsbury® Unbleached All-Purpose 5lb Flour Due to Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2019

Grocery Stores Report Recall of Flour Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

According to news reports, two grocery chains are recalling Pillsbury flour in 5lb bags for potential Salmonella contamination. The chains, Publix and Winn Dixie are both in the Southeast US.

FDA has not yet posted a recall on their website, so there is limited information.

Salmonella can be found in flour and becomes an issue when items are undercooked or not cooked (like raw cookie dough) or there is cross contamination in the kitchen when the contaminated flour gets onto ready-to-eat food items.

http://www.fox13news.com/consumer/publix-winn-dixie-recalls-pillsbury-flour-due-to-salmonella-concern
Publix, Winn-Dixie recalls Pillsbury flour due to salmonella concern
By FOX 13 News staff
Posted Mar 11 2019 05:56AM EDT
Updated Mar 11 2019 07:16AM EDT

Gold Medal Flour Recalled After Product Testing Indicated Potential Salmonella Contamination

General Mills issued a recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached Flour with a better if used by date of April 20, 2020 for the potential of Salmonella after sample testing of the product. 

While proper cooking of product made from flour would eliminate Salmonella, the concern is that people may under cook items made from flour or that flour dust in the kitchen may contaminate food or food contact surfaces.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629754.htm
General Mills Recalls Five Pound Bags of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2019

Duncan Hines Cake Mix Recalled after Outbreak Strain Found in Product

Conagra Brands is recalling Duncan Hines cake mixes after being connected "with a positive finding of Salmonella in a retail sample of Duncan Hines Classic White cake mix that may be linked to a Salmonella outbreak", where five people have become infected.  The Salmonella strain, Salmonella Agbeni, matched the organism collected from ill persons as determined through the use of Whole Genome Sequencing.  "While it has not been definitively concluded that this product is linked to the outbreak and the investigation is still ongoing."

The baking process, if properly followed, will eliminate the organism,  However, people do eat raw batter and there is the issue of cross contamination that can occur in the kitchen when the powder mix gets onto food contact surfaces as well as other food.

Has this been an issue in the past?  Salmonella as well as STEC E. coli have been involved in flour related outbreaks and recalls (1, 2, 3 4, 5 ).  Improved techniques for tracking outbreaks and for identifying specific organisms using Whole Genome Sequencing have given a truer look at sources that may not have identified in the past.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm625144.htm

Duncan Hines Classic White, Classic Butter Golden, Signature Confetti and Classic Yellow Cake Mixes Recalled Due to Potential Presence of Salmonella

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2018

Flour Recalled for Salmonella, Sell-By Date Over 2 years Ago

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods is voluntarily recalling 2,099 cases of Organic Amaranth Flour (22 oz.), after recent testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in a single LOT of Organic Amaranth Flour (22 oz.) with a Sell By date of Nov. 26, 2015.  (Note this expiration date)  "Bob’s Red Mill issued a voluntary recall for Organic Amaranth Flour (22 oz.) after recent testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in a tested sample of Organic Amaranth Flour (22 oz.) with a Sell By date of Nov. 26, 2015. Bob’s Red Mill has commenced an investigation of the source of the problem in the Supply Chain."

Not sure why someone would be testing flour that has an sell-by-date that has long ago.  According to the FDA notice, some product was found at store level.  If this was a recent test that discovered the Salmonella, that fact that it was there shows how long Salmonella can persist in dry product.

FDA Recall Notice

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm604028.htm
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Organic Amaranth Flour (22 Oz.) Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2018

Organic Coconut Flour Recalled after Testing Reveals Positive Test Result

King Arthur Flour issued a voluntary recall for Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.) after testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in 1 pouch of Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.).

It is not stated if this recall is related to the ongoing investigation of dried coconut that has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak, or whether testing was done as a result of that FDA news release.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm602489.htm
King Arthur Flour Company, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Organic Coconut Flour (16 Oz.) Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
March 23, 2018

CDC Report - 2016-2017 E.coli non-O157 Outbreak in Canada Associated with Flour

CDC issued a field note on the 2016-2017 E. coli non-O157 outbreak in Canada associated with flour.  In all, 29 people were infected in Canada and one in the US.   Robin Hood flour was the identified brand.  According to the report, "Eleven of these sixteen patients reported they ate or probably ate raw dough during their exposure period."  "Eight patients were hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Clinical isolates were typed as E. coli O121:H19."

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6626a6.htm?s_cid=mm6626a6_e
Notes from the Field: An Outbreak of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli O121 Infections Associated with Flour — Canada, 2016–2017
Weekly / July 7, 2017

Canadian Produced Flour Recalled for E. coli O121

Smucker Foods of Canada is recalling flour produced at Ardent Mills in Saskatoon SK, Canada for the potential to be contaminated by E. coli O121.  Impacted product is packaged in 20 lb. paper bags and was distributed nationwide to 19 distributors and two small retailers.  There have been no reported illnesses in the US.

This recall relates to a Canadian recall issued in March.  This recall was expanded in April to include product produced by Ardent Mills.


FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm561190.htm
Smucker Foods of Canada Corp. Announces a Voluntary Recall on Select Golden Temple®, Swad®, and Maya® Flour Products in the U.S. Due to Possible E. Coli 0121 Contamination
For Immediate Release
May 31, 2017

Canada - E.coli Outbreak Linked to Flour

In Canada, there have been 25 cases of E.coli infection linked to Robin Hood flour, with 6 of those cases requiring hospitalizations.  The CFIA found that the flour was contaminated with E. coli O121.

Don't eat raw dough.  Treat raw flour as though it can be potentially contaminated by cleaning it up from the counter or other surfaces.

For the hazard analysis, include E. coli and Salmonella as a hazard in flour (unless it is treated in some way.)

CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/flour-ecoli-sick-recall-robin-hood-brand-cfia-public-health-agency-1.4046011
25 illnesses in 4 provinces linked to E. coli-tainted Robin Hood flour
10-kilogram bags with best-before date of April 17, 2018, should be thrown out or returned

CDC Finalizes Investigation on E. coli (STEC O121) in Flour

CDC issued the final report on the E. coli STEC outbreak associated with flour.  The recall of the product was issued in May and then expanded in July.   While CDC expects more cases over time (as people may still have and use recalled flour), there have been 63 cases to date with 17 hospitalizations with one case of HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome).

 

 Dough is meant for cooking, not eating raw or playing with.  Unfortunately, there are those out there who will continue to eat raw dough (you know who you are).  But please don't pass this habit onto the youth.  One, they are at higher risk.  Two, if you are willing to get sick, then fine, but let's not make a new generation of raw dough eaters.  

  

CDC Outbreak Update

https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2016/o121-06-16/index.html

Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Infections Linked to Flour (Final Update)

Posted September 29, 2016 12:45PM EST

General Mills Flour Tests Positive for E. coli O121

FDA has confirmed that a sample of recalled General Mills flour has tested positive for E. coli O121.  This comes as General Mills is recalling 10 million pounds of flour after 38 people have gotten ill.

So if you have this flour, either dispose of it or return it if it has not been opened.


General Mills Website
http://www.generalmills.com/flour
Flour recall
Gold Medal, Gold Medal Wondra, and Signature Kitchens flour recalled due to possible E. coli O121 contamination

June 11
Update:
The FDA has alerted General Mills that it has confirmed one sample from our recalled flour has now tested positive for E. coli O121. The positive test was in flour from the recalled time period noted in the recall below:

More Snack Items Recalled Due to Peanut Allergen Contamination in Flour

Kellogg Company is recalling selected Keebler, Famous Amos, and Kellogg brand items because the flour used to make those items may have peanut allergen.  This is part of the Grain Craft recall of flour that also forced the recall of products by Frito Lay and Hostess last week.  (Frito Lay updated their recall to include additional products.)

 Mars Chocolate also issued a recall for Combos.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm506487.htm
Kellogg Company Voluntarily Recalls Certain Snacks for Potential Undeclared Peanut Residue Due to Flour Supplier Recall
For Immediate Release
June 13, 2016

Flour Recalled As Investigators Try to Link to E. coli Outbreak

General Mills is recalling 10 million pounds of raw flour as federal and state agencies are investing 38 occurrences of E.coli infections across 20 states between December 21, 2015, and May 3, 2016.  The specific type of E. coli is E. coli O121, a non-O157 STEC, that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in more susceptible people, it can cause kidney damage.   In 2013, this organism was responsible for an outbreak linked to frozen chicken quesadilla, a product that required cooking.

The outbreak investigation showed that roughly half of the 38 people infected used flour, some of them stated using Gold Medal brand.  So far, the flour has not tested positive for the organism.

So how does E. coli get into flour?  Probably from the raw material.  One study looking at a large number of samples, found that 12.8% of flour samples found E. coli (not strain specific) in raw flour. 

Of course, if the products made from the flour are properly cooked, that cooking will destroy the organism. However, people do eat raw dough products, including cookie dough. Nestle raw cookie dough was involved in an E. coli outbreak in 2009 where people were probably eating raw cookie dough.   In a report of that incident, investigators were not able to find the actual source of the E. coli. And like that case, it is not likely that they will be able to find this strain of E. coli.From that report:

Despite extensive traceback and environmental investigations and testing by regulatory agencies and company A, the source and route of product contamination remains undetermined. Possible means of contamination include introduction of a contaminated ingredient during processing, a lapse in plant biosecurity measures, intentional contamination, or cross contamination with another food processed in the plant. Although the manufacturing plant is located in a rural area in the mid-Atlantic United States, investigators did not observe any obvious breach in biosecurity that would facilitate introduction of E. coli O157 into the facility from the outside. No significant food handling or safety violations were identified at the plant that could result in cross-contamination within the plant.

In the end, don't eat raw dough, including cookie dough.  Clean up as you go, washing up any spilt flour.




 FDA News Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm504235.htm
Gold Medal, Gold Medal Wondra, and Signature Kitchens Flour Recalled Due to Possible E. coli O121 Contamination