General Mills Recalls Flour Products Due to E. coli O121 Outbreak Link
General Mills is recalling specific flour products due to a potential link to a multistate E. coli O121 outbreak, although the bacteria has not been found in the products.
The agency’s classification
FDA (Food): Class I
Class I is a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The agency classified this recall as Class I — a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. On that classification alone this is scored Severe; a score of Critical is reserved for recalls where a death or serious injury was reported. The agency gives the reason as: "General Mills is recalling a number of products because of a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 that may be potentially linked to Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour. To date, E. coli O121 has not been found in…"
Plain-English summary
General Mills, Inc. is recalling specific units of Sysco Classic Hotel & Restaurant Flour and Sysco All-Purpose Hotel & Restaurant Flour. The recall involves 50lb and 25lb units with specific production code dates ranging from November 17 to November 21, 2015. The total quantity affected is 614,478 units.
The recall is being conducted because of a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 that may be potentially linked to Gold Medal, Wondra, and Signature Kitchens flour products. To date, E. coli O121 has not been found in any General Mills flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility. Additionally, the company has not been contacted directly by any consumer reporting confirmed illnesses related to these specific products.
The affected products were distributed to all states in the US, including Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands, excluding Alaska and South Dakota. International distribution included Aruba, Hong Kong, China, Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Curacao, Haiti, and Thailand. Consumers should check their inventory for the specific UPCs and code dates listed in the recall notice and stop using the products if they match the description.
The recalled product
- Product
- 50lb Sysco Classic Hotel & Restaurant Flour Bleached Enriched Malted Unit UPC 34730-23936 Code Dates/Production Dates 17NOV5KC, 18NOV5KC 25lb Sysco All-Purpose Hotel & Restaurant Flour Bleached Enriched Malted Unit UPC 34730-23957 Code Dates/Production Dates 20NOV5KC…
- Manufacturer
- General Mills, Inc
- Category
- Food — Flour
- Hazard
- Affected units
- 614,478
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Lot numbers (4)
- 17NOV5KC
- 18NOV5KC
- 20NOV5KC
- 21NOV5KC
Distribution
Part of a larger recall action
This product is one of 10 recalled by General Mills, Inc under a single FDA (Food) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.
See all 10 products in this recall →Related recalls
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