Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Pillsbury BEST Flour recall: E.coli

Recall published 7+ years ago

E.coli

Pillsbury BEST Grains & cereal — recalled grains & cereal
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: E. coli contamination

E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.

What the notice says: In some cases, individuals may develop a serious illness called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, which can result in kidney failure, stroke, and even death).

Why it matters: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli causes a more severe illness than most food poisoning, and in a minority of cases it damages the kidneys. Very small numbers of bacteria are enough to make someone ill.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes symptoms as severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea that is often bloody, and vomiting, typically starting three to four days after exposure. Most people get better within a week. A small proportion — most often young children and older adults — develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a form of kidney failure that needs hospital treatment. Call a doctor for bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, a fever above 102°F, vomiting that prevents you keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration. The CDC advises against taking anti-diarrhoeal medicine for a suspected E. coli infection unless a doctor tells you to.

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
June 14, 2019
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Pillsbury BEST
Product type
Grains & cereal
Units affected
4,620 cases
Distribution
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
UPC codes
051500200315
Reports of harm
There have been no reports of any illnesses associated with this product and this recall has been issued out of an abundance of caution.

Products covered by this recall

Flour

What the company announced

Hometown Food Company, in cooperation with ADM Milling Co., today initiated a voluntary recall of two specific lot codes of its Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour due to a potential presence of pathogenic E. coli . The product was manufactured by ADM Milling Co., at the company’s mill in Buffalo, NY.

The severity of E. coli infections vary among people and often include several symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. People usually develop symptoms and get sick 3-4 days after ingesting the germ, and most recover within a week. In some cases, individuals may develop a serious illness called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, which can result in kidney failure, stroke, and even death). Young children, elderly individuals, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised are more susceptible to foodborne illness. If you feel ill or are at all concerned about an illness, please contact your physician.

Approximately 4,620 cases of impacted Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour were distributed to a limited number of retailers and distributors across the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The affected product has the following UPC codes, lot codes and Best-If-Used-By dates:

  • Item Name: Pillsbury Best™ Bread Flour · UPC Item Code: 0 5150020031 5 · Lot Code: 8 342 · Use-By Date: JUN 08 2020 · QTY (Eight-Count Case): 4,080
  • Item Name: Pillsbury Best™ Bread Flour · UPC Item Code: 0 5150020031 5 · Lot Code: 8 343 · Use-By Date: JUN 09 2020 · QTY (Eight-Count Case): 540

All products with other Best-If-Used-By Dates and Lot Codes are not affected by this recall. Best-If-Used By Dates can be found on the side of the package below the Nutrition Facts Panel.

If you have the affected product in your home or business, do not consume it. Please discard it immediately or return it to the retail location it was purchased from for a refund. This voluntary recall is being made with the full knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

At Hometown Food Company, nothing is more important than the safety and integrity of our products.

There have been no reports of any illnesses associated with this product and this recall has been issued out of an abundance of caution. Hometown Food Company has been informed by ADM Milling Co., that certain wheat used to make these two lots of Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour has been linked to E. coli illnesses associated with other flour products produced at the ADM mill in Buffalo. Please visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website for more information on this illness outbreak . To date, no illnesses associated with Pillsbury® Best Bread Flour have been reported.

Flour is made from wheat, which is a raw product that is minimally processed. Flour is not a ready-to-eat product. It is an ingredient for baked, fried and cooked recipes, and these heating processes, along with proper handling, ensure the safety of consuming flour. All surfaces and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or uncooked dough or batter. Consumers should wash their hands after handling flour or uncooked dough or batter. Consumers should not eat uncooked dough or batter made with raw flour.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this recall may cause, and are offering replacement coupons for your product. Please call our toll-free 800 number (1-866-219-9333), which will be staffed daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CDT. We remain committed to producing the high-quality products synonymous with the Pillsbury® name since 1869.

Outbreak Investigation Page

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

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 051500200315

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 8 342
  • 8 343

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • 0 5150020031 5

Package size

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

  • 5 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 E. coli

Pillsbury BEST — E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.

  1. Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.
  2. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.
  3. Keep an eye on young children for a week after exposure, including after the diarrhoea stops, because kidney complications appear late.
  4. Seal it in a bag and throw it out, or return it to the store for a refund.

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: Please discard it immediately or return it to the retail location it was purchased from for a refund.

Company contact: Hometown Food Company — Consumers: 1-866-219-9333

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 Pillsbury BEST grains & cereal recalled?

E.coli In some cases, individuals may develop a serious illness called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, which can result in kidney failure, stroke, and even death).

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 051500200315; lot code 8 342, 8 343; model number 0 5150020031 5. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Please discard it immediately or return it to the retail location it was purchased from for a refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia.

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