UPDATE: On Monday, July 25, General Mills, a leader in flour production for 150 years, announced four new confirmed illnesses due to flour contaminated by E. coli.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flour, likely produced at a General Mills plant in Kansas City, Missouri, has infected 46 people in 21 states since last December.
The CDC says 13 have been hospitalized, and one person has developed a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
General Mills is expanding its recall to include more production dates of flour possibly contaminated with E. coli.
On July 9 Continental Mills’ Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix and three flavors of Betty Crocker cake mixes (Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix) were included in the products affected, the company announced.
Consumers are urged to wash their hands before and after handling flour and to refrain from eating any raw dough or batter made with flour, according to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The flour has to be cooked, baked, or boiled for E. coli to be eliminated.
Symptoms caused by the E. coli involved in the recall can be fatal and can cause dehydration and bloody diarrhea. Children under the age of 5, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems are at higher risk for kidney damage due to E. coli infections.
