10 Million Pounds of Flour Recalled for E. Coli Concerns

General Mills is recalling 10 million pounds of flour under the Gold Medal, Signature Kitchens and Wondra brands across the country over potential E. coli contamination.

The outbreak, which has sickened 38 people, has been identified in 20 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not identified the states.

The Gold Medal products were shipped nationwide. Stop & Shop posted a recall notice on its website Wednesday. Signature Kitchens products are sold at Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, Vons, United, Randalls and Acme, General Mills reported. Products included in the recall include both unbleached flour and bleached flour. All told, the recall affects about 10 million pounds of flour, a company spokesman told Patch.

E. coli O121, the strain of bacteria being investigated, has not been found in any General Mills flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility, according to the company.

General Mills, based in Minneapolis, issued this statement Tuesday:

Out of an abundance of caution, a voluntary recall is being made. To date, E. coli O121 has not been found in any General Mills flour products or in the flour manufacturing facility, and the company has not been contacted directly by any consumer reporting confirmed illnesses related to these products.

State and federal authorities have been researching 38 occurrences of illnesses across 20 states related to a specific type of E. coli (E. coli O121), between December 21, 2015, and May 3, 2016. While attempting to track the cause of the illness, CDC found that approximately half of the individuals reported making something homemade with flour at some point prior to becoming ill. Some reported using a General Mills brand of flour.

Some of the people may have eaten raw dough or batter. General Mills advises people not to eat raw dough and that the bacteria in flour can be "rendered harmless" when fried, baked or boiled.

The E. coli strain that may be linked to flour can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

No government agencies had released information about the E. coli outbreak and investigation when General Mills issued its voluntarily recall Tuesday, reports Food Safety News.

The recalled products include:

13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra

Package UPC 000-16000-18980

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25FEB2017 thru 30MAR2017

2 pound Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10710

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC thru 03JUN2017KC

5 pound Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC, 27MAY2017KC thru 31MAY2017KC, 01JUN2017KC, 03JUN2017KC thru 05JUN2017KC, 11JUN2017KC thru 14JUN2017KC

10 pound Gold Medal All Purpose Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-10410

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 02JUN2017KC, 03JUN2017KC

10 pound Gold Medal All Purpose Flour- Banded Pack

Package UPC 000-16000-10410

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 03JUN2017KC, 04JUN2017KC, 05JUN2017KC

5 pound Gold Medal Unbleached Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-19610

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 25MAY2017KC, 27MAY2017KC, 03JUN2017KC, 04JUN2017KC

5 pound Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached

Package UPC 000-21130-53001

Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB MAY 28 2017

5 pound Signature Kitchens Unbleached Flour All Purpose Enriched

Package UPC 000-21130-53022

Recalled Better if Used by Dates BB MAY 27 2017

2 pound Gold Medal Self Rising Flour

Package UPC 000-16000-11710

Recalled Better if Used by Dates 23AUG2016KC

“As a leading provider of flour for 150 years, we felt it was important to not only recall the product and replace it for consumers if there was any doubt, but also to take this opportunity to remind our consumers how to safely handle flour,” Liz Nordlie, president of General Mills Baking division, said in the release.

Consumers who have any of the above products are asked to not use them. Questions about the recall and information on how to get a replacement product can be obtained by calling 1-800-230-8103 or by visitinghttp://www.generalmills.com/flour online.

contributing: Sherri Lonon, Patch.com

Photo via Flickr/CreativeCommons/Jessica Spengler