Flour Recalled In VA For Salmonella Risk: What To Know - Patch

VIRGINIA — Bagged flour sold in Virginia and across the U.S. may contain salmonella, and health officials are urging residents to get rid of the recalled products.

The voluntary recall from General Mills affects 2-, 5-, and 10-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour. The affected bags have a "better if used by" date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that Salmonella Infantis was discovered during sampling of the product, in a notice posted Friday. Officials did not say if anyone in Virginia or other states was sickened by the tainted flour.

The affected products are either in stores or in customers' cabinets, said the FDA and General Mills.

The voluntary recall includes the following package UPC codes:

• 000-16000-19610
• 000-16000-19580
• 000-16000-10710
• 000-16000-10610

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say people should not eat products made with raw flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

"Salmonella Infantis is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour," said the FDA. "All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough."

General Mills is encouraging customers to check their cupboards and throw away any flour affected by the recall. Customers who had to throw out products may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103.

The salmonella organism can cause serious and potentially fatal infections in children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Most people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and blood in the urine or stool.

In rare circumstances, the infection gets into the bloodstream and produces more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

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