Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, bleached and unbleached recall: Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Recall published 3+ years ago

Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Gold Medal Grains & cereal — recalled grains & cerealGold Medal Grains & cereal — recalled grains & cereal (photo 2)Gold Medal Grains & cereal — recalled grains & cereal (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

The hazard here is Salmonella contamination, a bacterial infection that is usually unpleasant rather than dangerous, but which hits young children and older adults much harder.

What the notice says: Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
April 28, 2023
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Gold Medal
Product type
Grains & cereal

Products covered by this recall

All Purpose Flour, bleached and unbleached

What the company announced

Consumers reminded that flour is not a ready-to-eat ingredient

MINNEAPOLIS (April 28, 2023) – General Mills today announced a voluntary national recall of two-, five- and 10-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour with a “better if used by” date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of Salmonella Infantis,which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product.

This recall affects two date codes of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour in the five- and ten pound bags and two date codes of Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose Flour in the two- and five-pound bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103.

Guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour. Salmonella Infantisis killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

This voluntary recall includes the following code dates currently in stores or consumers’ pantries:

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour

  • Package UPC: Recalled Better if Used by Date · 000-16000-19610: 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 10LB Flour

  • Package UPC: Recalled Better if Used by Date · 000-16000-19580: 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 2LB Flour

  • Package UPC: Recalled Better if Used by Date · 000-16000-10710: 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose 5LB Flour

  • Package UPC: Recalled Better if Used by Date · 000-16000-10610: 27MAR2024 and 28MAR2024

Healthy persons infected with Salmonella Infantis, a bacteria, often experience nausea, diarrhea, fever and abdominal pains. The CDC estimates there are 1.2 million cases annually in the U.S. Typically, symptoms start within six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

About General Mills

General Mills makes the food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale, and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Haagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, General Mills generated fiscal 2022 net sales of $19.0 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled $1.1 billion.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 10 pound
  • 5 LB
  • 10 LB
  • 2 LB

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Salmonella

Gold Medal — The hazard here is Salmonella contamination, a bacterial infection that is usually unpleasant rather than dangerous, but which hits young children and older adults much harder.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. Watch everyone who ate it for about a week, and call a doctor sooner for a child under five or an adult over 65.
  3. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.
  4. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pack, and wash any dish, utensil or surface it touched in hot soapy water.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall.

Company contact: General Mills — Consumers: General Mills Consumer Relations, 1-800-230-8103 — Media: General Mills Media Line, 763-764-6364, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Gold Medal grains & cereal recalled?

Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall.

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