Two companies have issued voluntary recalls for bags of all-purpose flour due to potential presence of E. coli.
UNFI announced Nov. 27, a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached, with a Code of AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58 and UPC Code 711535509158.
During routine FDA sampling of the five-pound bag product, results were found to be positive for E.coli.
To date, UNFI has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product, according to the company announcement.
Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers with questions may contact UNFI at 855-423-2630 (customer support is available seven days-a-week between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST). Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
Hodgson Mill of Effingham, Illinios also announced on Nov. 27 a voluntary national recall of specific lots of its five-pound Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour.
“We are taking this voluntary precautionary step because of the potential presence of pathogenic E. coli which was discovered through sampling raw uncooked flour. Hodgson Mill has not received any confirmed reports of illnesses related to this product,” the company announcement stated.
The only product affected by Hodgson Mill’s recall is Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.) UPC 0-71518-05009-2Best By Date 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020 with lot codes listed Lot# 001042 & 005517.
Use By and Lot Code information can be found on the bottom back panel of the 5 lb. Bag. Used By date and Lot Code, along with their location on the bag, must all match in order to represent flour affected by this recall.
This lot of flour was milled at an ADM Milling Facility in St Louis, Missouri and repacked at Hodgson Mill, Inc. facility in Effingham, Illinois, and was distributed by Hodgson Mill through retailers and distribution nationwide and sold through our website www.hodgsonmill.com
Consumers who have purchased 5 lb packages of Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour with specific lot codes are urged to stop using the product immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company customer service M-F 9am to 3pm at 1-888-417-9343 x 1.
Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
E. coli can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections in infants, older people, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The most common symptoms of E. coli are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, which develop within three or four days of eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts about a week and most people recover without treatment.
Guidance from FDA and the Centers for Disease Control continues to warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour and that all surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.
