Has Gold Medal Flour Been Recalled? We’re disappointedly announcing that the Gold Medal Flour has been recalled. Gold Medal Flour, manufactured by General Mills, has been recalled.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials, they have observed several cases of Salmonella, two of which were found in Illinois, leading to the Gold Medal flour recall.
Gold Medal Flour Highlights:
- Manufacturing Company Name: General Mills
- Name Of The Brand: Gold Medal
- The company Made An Announcement On April 28 2023
- FDA Publish Date: April 28 2023
- Types Of Products: Bakery Products/ Mix, Food & Beverages, and Foodborne Illness
- Why The Company Recalled Gold Medal Flour: It was found to be contaminated with Salmonella Infantis
- Product Details: All Purpose Flour, bleached and unbleached
It was believed the company had recalled bleached and unbleached all-purpose flour bags of 2, 5, and 10 – pounds that mentioned an expiry date between March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024.
According to the CDC, most flour has been contaminated with germs as these were not treated to kill germs, and the raw form of the flour causes several types of diseases, including food poisoning.
Yeah! We know the issue is Salmonella bacteria found in raw flour; they all die when consumed in cooked or baked foods. On the contrary, some food products do not bake or cook flour and are used as raw flour, which makes people sick. Raw dough is also used for clay and crafts that pose a risk.
When the CDC interviewed consumer, seven out of eight reported eating raw flour or food product that contains raw flour, and the reports stated, “All those people who were in the habit of using the brand of flour observed that the outbreak strain has been found in the Gold Medal All Purpose Flour that was collected from the company, General Mills facility in Missouri.”
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Gold Medal Flour Code Dates That Have Been Recalled?
Here we mention the following code dates that have been voluntarily recalled but are still in the stores. Let’s have a look at those code dates.
- Unbleached All Purpose Gold Medal Flour of 5 LB recalled that marked better if used by date, “March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024, with the Package UPC – 000-16000-19610
- Unbleached All Purpose Gold Medal Flour Of 10 LB recalled, that marked better if used by the date “March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024, with the Package UPC – 000-16000-19580
- Bleached All Purpose 2 LB Gold Medal Flour with the Package UPC – 000-16000-10710, recalled better if used by the date “March 27, 2024, and March 28 2024”.
- Bleached All Purpose 5 LB Gold Medal Flour with the Package UPC – 000-16000-10610, recalled better if used by the date “March 27, 2024, and March 28 2024”.
No other types of Gold Medal Flour have been affected by this recall. If you are using products other than those mentioned above, no worries, you can continue using them as they are not a part of this recall.
Why Has Gold Medal Flour Been Recalled?
Across the country, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found 13 cases. They observed some complaints when the company was delivering a five-pound bag of Gold Medal Flour as a part of its production process. Later on, the company decided to recall Gold Medal Flour voluntarily.
The company announced a voluntary recall of several bags of Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour. The recall has been issued as the company found a bacteria, Salmonella Infantis while sampling the five-pound bag flour.
Not all products have been recalled, but this recall affected the two date codes of this brand’s Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour in the five or ten-pound and two or five-pound bags, respectively. On the other hand, This recall did not affect any other types of Gold Medal Flour.
What do you do if you find your product on the recalled Gold Medal Flour list?
Suppose any consumers checked their pantries and found that their products are included on the list of recalled products. Then they are asked to dispose of the product. Consumers who have discarded the products can contact them at 1.800-230-8103.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to consume any raw products made from Gold Medal recalled flour. As cleared, the bacteria in this recalled product can be killed if the food is properly cooked, boiled, baked, fried, and sauteed properly.
But if you are consuming food made from this flour raw, it means you are consuming Salmonella Infantis, which can cause several diseases, such as food poisoning.
They also recommended properly cleaning all the utensils, hands, and surfaces after using the flour or dough.
Similarly, another case was also there, i.e., Lipari Foods, which recalled its ground cumin in Michigan because the product was also contaminated with Salmonella Infantis. That product was manufactured and marketed with packing in a six-ounce plastic tub.
It was covered with a white label that marked several pieces of information “Ground Cumin”, “Distributed by Lipari Foods”, and Product Of India”, along with a lot number 220914601, use-by date of 09 – 2024 with the Package UPC – 094776212620.
Who Makes Gold Medal Flour?
The company, General Mills, makes all types of Gold Medal bleached and unbleached flour. It is believed that this company makes the food for the entire world.
Its portfolio deals with brands such as Yoki, Old El Paso, Haagen-Dazs, Blue Buffalo, Nature Valley, Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Yoplait, Annie’s, and Wanchai Ferry. General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
When was the product recalled?
Before the recall, one of the spokespeople of General Mills stated, “We are on a mission that targets to educate all our consumers that flour is not an ingredient that can be served instantly without cooking (not a ‘ready to eat ingredient’). Also, before making anything with flour, one should cook or bake it properly before consuming it.
Also added, “Thoroughly wash hands, bowls, and utensils after using raw flour.” No need to consume any flour without cooking it properly.
What Problems Are People Experiencing After Consuming Gold Medal Flour?
Those who consumed the food product that contained raw Gold Medal Flour were infected with Salmonella Infantis and experienced many problems. The symptoms are diarrhoea, upset stomach, high temperature, abdominal cramps, and nausea.
According to the CDC, it is observed that the symptoms begin within six hours, and it can also take up to six days after being infected with this bacteria.
The problem lasts for five days to a week. Also, the reports estimated that there are 1.2 million cases that come up every year across the United States. If you have observed any symptoms, then it is better to contact a healthcare provider.
According to the US Centers For Disease Control and Outbreak, it is found that the Gold Medal Flour is the source of the Salmonella Infantis pandemic. It had infected more than ten people who tasted raw flour in 12 states nationwide.
Not only these symptoms, but the CDC’s intense research has also observed that the Gold Medal Flour made people ill to the extent that around a dozen people had fallen ill, and some outlets stated, out of which three people were hospitalized in late March.
Yeah! Three people have been reported to be hospitalized with this strain pandemic, but no further cases have been reported. Although people who have fallen ill due to bacteria consumption are higher in number, the reports have not shown all of them as their cases are not covered.
For people who don’t get medical care, those cases were not covered in the reports, but those who get tested for Salmonella were reported in the CDC report.
However, consuming Salmonella causes symptoms but does not cause severe illness, and people can recover without seeking medical treatment. But some people are there, who have weaker immune systems, aged or children may develop the symptoms faster, which can cause in them severe issues that can be treated only with medical treatment,
All in all, The Gold Medal Flour was observed to be the greatest source of a multi-state Salmonella pandemic.
The Last Words On Gold Medal Flour Recall
The company that manufactures Gold Medal Flour stated, “We voluntarily recall certain unbleached and bleached All Purpose Gold Medal Flour because the Gold Medal consumer’s health and safety is our first priority.”
It is recommended to look into your cupboards or pantries to check if you have any bags of flour that have been recalled. Then it would help if you discontinued using them as they are claimed to be contaminated with Salmonella Infantis.
To check whether it is recalled or not, you can check the UPC and “Best if Used By Dates” mentioned on the bags of flour. If you still have the recalled products, you may contact General Mills Consumer Care.
General Mills explained it is not a matter of concern. If you consume it in baking, boiling, and frying food products, then all the Salmonella bacteria can be killed, but the case is not the same if you eat any raw products made with flour.
REF. LINKS:
- https://abc7chicago.com/ general-mills-recall-on-gold-medal-flour-2023-salmonella-illinois/13202885/
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/general-mills-recalls-four-gold-medal-unbleached-and-bleached-all-purpose-flour-varieties-dated - https://www.foodandwine.com/ gold-medal-flour-recall-salmonella-2023-7487378
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ gold-medal-flour-recall-general-mills-salmonella-concerns/
- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/01/ health/gold-medal-flour-salmonella/index.html
