Coli: General Mills expands nationwide recall, includes 10 million pounds of flour

The company’s announcement Friday expands the recall to include flour made earlier in the fall that might still be in consumers’ pantries. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and, in some cases, nausea and vomiting.

After 10 million pounds of flour was voluntarily recalled on May 31, General Mills has announced the expansion of a flour recall due to new reports of illness stemming from an Escherichia coli outbreak. The E.coli O121 is potentially deadly, causing serious kidney problems. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found in about half of those cases, the individuals reported making a food item using flour, according to the General Mills website. Many strains of E. Coli aren’t harmful to humans; 0121 is an exception.

The recall affects the following retail flour products. Seniors, small children and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

No one has died or developed the most unsafe symptoms from the E. coli infections, but 42 people have become ill from the General Mills flour, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said. Now, the CDC directly links the bacteria to consuming the flour in its raw state, and they are urging consumers not to eat it that way. The agency also cautioned against letting kids play with dough and advised consumers to wash their hands and kitchen surfaces carefully after handling raw dough. As of June 28, 42 people nationwide had been infected with the E. coli strain linked to flour. Consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it as Listeria can cause serious illness and death.

Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods is recalling 2,444 pounds of “Trader Giotto’s Caesar Salad with Chicken Breast.” for mislabeling and undeclared allergens. The salad usually has the statement “May Contain Traces of Shellfish”, on the package, which is missing.