Popular brand of flour recalled after salmonella outbreak, including 2 cases in Illinois
State health authorities have reported two cases of salmonella in Illinois related to a recall of flour distributed under one brand name.
General Mills issued a voluntary recall of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with “better if used by” dates of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024. Affected bag sizes include 2-, 5- and 10-pound bags, according to a May 1 press release from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“Public health officials warn consumers to check their flour that still has the packaging to see if the dates match the recall,” the Illinois Department of Public Health press release read. “If they put the flour in a container and don’t keep the packaging, and they typically buy Gold Medal flour, they are encouraged to dispose of that rather than use it.”
Across the nation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 13 illnesses related to the outbreak, including three leading to hospitalization.
General Mills recommends customers check their pantries and dispose of any product affected by the recall, according to an April 28 press release shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103,” the release continued.
Here’s what to know about salmonella and its potential symptoms.
What to know about Salmonella
Salmonella bacteria causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to CDC estimates.
Diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps are some of the most common symptoms, according to the CDC, and people may also experience nausea, vomiting or a headache. Symptoms usually appear sometime between six hours and six days after infection and last for four to seven days.
The CDC recommends calling your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees
Diarrhea that is not improving after more than three days
Bloody stool
Vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
Dehydration signs, such as dry mouth and throat, dizziness when standing up or producing very little urine
While most salmonella infections are mild, according to the World Health Organization, the bacteria can be life-threatening.
“Although large Salmonella outbreaks usually attract media attention, 60–80% of all salmonellosis cases are not recognized as part of a known outbreak and are classified as sporadic cases, or are not diagnosed as such at all,” the WHO website says.
Children and older patients are more at risk for severe illness due to dehydration resulting from salmonella infection, according to WHO.
