Health officials are advising Hawaiians to check their pantry for Gold Medal flour, which General Mills has voluntarily recalled due to a possible link to salmonella.
General Mills on Friday voluntarily issued a national recall of its 2-pound, 5-pound and 10-pound bags of golden, bleached and unbleached all-purpose flour with “best if used by” dates of March 27, 2024 and March 28, 2024.
The list of recalled products includes:
>> Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5-pound bag); Package UPC: 000-16000-19610
>> Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour (10-pound bag); Package UPC: 000-16000-19580
>> Gold Medal All-Purpose Bleached Flour (2 lb. bag); Package UPC: 000-16000-10710
>> Gold Medal Bleached All-Purpose Flour (5-pound bag); Package UPC: 000-16000-10610
The Hawaii Department of Health advises residents to toss recalled flour if it is found in their pantries. If the recovered flour is stored in another container, it should be washed thoroughly with warm soapy water before using it again.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 13 diseases in 12 states, including California, Oregon and New York, linked to raw flour. So far, three cases have been hospitalized, but there have been no deaths.
The CDC always recommends baking or cooking food made with any type of raw flour before eating it. All utensils, utensils, surfaces and hands should also be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.
The DOH said healthy people infected with Salmonella Infantis, a bacterium, often experience nausea, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.
Typically, symptoms begin within six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. Residents concerned about illness should contact a physician.
Consumers who have had to throw away products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103.