According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), specific lot codes of Pillsbury flour are being recalled due to possible E. Coli contamination.
Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour product was manufactured by ADM Milling Co. in Buffalo, New York, and distributed across the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Approximately 4,620 cases of impacted flour were distributed.
What To Look For
Two lot codes, in particular, are being recalled for the Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour product. Here’s what you should look for if you recently purchased Pillsbury flour:
UPC Item Code 0 5150020031 5 with lot codes 8 342 or 8 343 with “use by” dates of June 8 and June 9, 2020.
According to the FDA, all other lot codes besides these two are safe to use and do not need to be discarded.
This recall of Pillsbury flour adds to the list of potentially contaminated flour. Certain lot codes of King Arthur Flour and ALDI Baker’s Corner All Purpose flour were also recently recalled, so be sure to check what brand and lot code is listed on the flour you currently have in your cabinet before using it again.
What To Do If You Have An Affected Item
Should you have one of the affected packages of Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour, the FDA recommended discarding it immediately or taking it back to the location where it was purchased for a refund.
To date, no illnesses have been reported in association with the potential E. Coli contamination, the FDA reported.
E. Coli Symptoms
While no illnesses have been reported, this is what you should expect if you experience sickness after coming into contact with E. Coli bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms can begin to show three to four days after exposure and include diarrhea, severe abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting in some cases.
There is no real treatment for E. Coli, and most healthy adults recover within a week. However, you should contact your doctor should symptoms persist or if diarrhea is bloody.
Best Practices When Using Flour
The FDA is also reminding everyone that flour is not meant to be consumed prior to baking, frying, or other use in recipes, which is why it recommends never eating raw cookie dough or other raw batters containing flour.
It’s also best to clean any surface or utensil that comes into contact with raw flour, as well as thoroughly wash your hands after cooking with flour.
About the Author
Augusta Statz holds a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She's an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. She feels the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what she spends most of her time writing about. More.
