Gold Medal, Gold Medal Wondra, and Signature Kitchens flour recalled

[Nut44x4]

http://www.generalmills.com/flour

Flour recall
 
Gold Medal, Gold Medal Wondra, and Signature Kitchens flour recalled due to possible E. coli O121 contamination
 

May 31, 2016
 


MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – General Mills is collaborating with health officials to investigate an ongoing, multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 that may be potentially linked to Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour (sold in Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, Vons, United, Randalls, and Acme). Out of an abundance of caution, a voluntary recall is being made.  To date, E. coli O121 has not been found in any General Mills flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility, and the company has not been contacted directly by any consumer reporting confirmed illnesses related to these products.

State and federal authorities have been researching 38 occurrences of illnesses across 20 states related to a specific type of E. coli (E. coli O121), between December 21, 2015, and May 3, 2016. While attempting to track the cause of the illness, CDC found that approximately half of the individuals reported making something homemade with flour at some point prior to becoming ill. Some reported using a General Mills brand of flour.
 
Based on the information that has been shared with General Mills, some of the ill consumers may have also consumed raw dough or batter. Consumers are reminded to not consume any raw products made with flour. Flour is an ingredient that comes from milling wheat, something grown outdoors that carries with it risks of bacteria which are rendered harmless by baking, frying or boiling. Consumers are reminded to wash their hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with raw dough products or flour, and to never eat raw dough or batter.
 

The recall affects the following retail flour products that could be currently in stores or in consumers’ pantries. It includes six SKUs (stock keeping units or UPC codes) of Gold Medal flour, 2 SKU’s of Signature Kitchens flour and 1 SKU of Gold Medal Wondra flour.
 
•If you have any of the products listed below, they should not be used.
See photos at link

[MuffyBee]

I never really thought about flour being connected to E.coli, causing illness.    Could someone become ill from handling flour?  I could see how baking could kill the bacteria.  But what about when I spread flour on the counter or board and roll out dough for biscuits?  Can the bacteria become airborne, as in if you one is dusting with flour and breathe it?  I can see it would be a really bad idea to eat raw dough.  I used to think it was because of the raw eggs.  But flour? I wonder if people have been getting sick for a long time, but we never knew the source?  Or has something changed?  

I just had another thought.  The article says baking kills the bacteria.  What about freezing?  I've frozen grains and flour before to kill off any weevil eggs.  Would it help with bacteria?