Gold Medal flour produced at the General Mills facility in Kansas City, MO is a likely source of a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121 (referred to as STEC O121 by health officials), according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. To date, the outbreak strain of E. coli O121 was isolated from samples of General Mills flour collected from the homes of ill people in Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
In early June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratory testing isolated the outbreak strain of STEC O121 from an open sample of General Mills flour collected from the home of an ill person in Colorado. The flour came from a lot included in the initial recall dated May 31, 2016.
Flour Recall Expands
In late June 2016, FDA isolated STEC O121 from samples of General Mills flour collected from the homes of ill people in Arizona, and Oklahoma. The flour collected in Oklahoma was not included in the initial General Mills recall, thus prompting the company to expand the recall of Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour. A list of the products included in the expanded recall is at the end of this page. For a full list of all General Mills recalled flour, please see the CDC Advice to Consumers page.
E. coli Outbreak Numbers Grow
The CDC initially reported that 38 people from 20 states were sickened in this E. coli O121 outbreak. Now, 4 more ill people have been reported from 4 states. The most recent illness started on June 8, 2016. One new state, Indiana, has been added to the list of states with ill people.
- Forty-two people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O121 have been reported from 21 states.
- Eleven ill people have been hospitalized.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 21, 2015, to June 8, 2016. Ill people range in age from 1 year to 95, with a median age of 18. Eighty-one percent of ill people are female. Eleven ill people have been hospitalized.
The specific products in the recall include:
| 13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-18980 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 23FEB2017KC, 24FEB2017KC |
| 2 lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-10710 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 15MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC, 04JUN2017KC, 05JUN2017KC, 11JUN2017KC, 12JUN2017KC, 13JUN2017KC, 14JUN2017KC |
| 2lb Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-11710 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 09AUG2016KC, 10AUG2016KC, 16AUG2016KC, 17AUG2016KC, 06SEP2016KC, 07SEP2016KC |
| 10lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-10410 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 16MAY2017KC through 20MAY2017KC, 05JUN2017KC |
| 5lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-10610 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 15MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC |
| 5lb Gold Medal Self Rising Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-11610 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 10AUG2016KC, 11AUG2016KC |
| 4.25lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-12670 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 21MAY2017KC, 03JUN2017KC |
| 5lb Gold Medal Unbleached Flour | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-19610 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 19MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC, 11JUN2017KC, 12JUN2017KC |
| 10lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour- Banded Pack | |
| Package UPC | 000-16000-10650 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | 15MAY2017KC |
| 2lb Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached | |
| Package UPC | 000-21130-53000 |
| Recalled Better if Used by Dates | BB MAY 27 2017 |