K-State Research and Extension

search

You Asked It!

Tag: Flour

Outbreak Investigation with Flour is Over

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

Measuring flourWhile the investigation for flour is over, illnesses may still occur. The recalled flour and flour products have long shelf lives and may still be in people’s homes. Consumers who don’t know about the recalls could continue to eat the products and get sick.

This recall was traced back to a variety of products that use flour milled at a General Mills facility. Besides flour, the other products include:

  • Bread Mixes
  • Browning and Cake Mixes
  • Muffin Mixes
  • Pancake and Biscuit Mixes
  • Meat and Poultry Products

Consumers should not use any of the recalled products and should throw them out. Do not eat raw dough of any kind. Always wash your hands as well as utensils and containers that have handled raw flour. Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2016/o121-06-16/advice-consumers.html

If you stored your flour in another container without the packaging and don’t remember the brand or what the better by date is, throw it out to be safe.

 

Handling the Dough Safely

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Always wash your hands after handling any type of raw dough.
Always wash your hands after handling any type of raw dough.

A recent recall of flour has prompted concerns about eating raw dough products such as raw cookie dough, raw bread dough, and homemade craft dough. Any type of flour is a raw food product. At least one person has been sickened with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) due to eating raw pizza dough a restaurant gave to the consumer. HUS develops from E. coli contamination and can be deadly. Here is advise to consumers:

  • Flour or raw eggs used to make raw dough or batter might be contaminated.
  • Bake items made with raw dough or batter before eating them. Follow the recipe or instructions on the package.
  • Do not taste raw dough or batter. Even tasting a small amount could make you sick.
  • Wash any bowls, utensils, and other surfaces that were used when baking with hot water and soap.
  • Wash your hands with water and soap after handling dough or batter.
  • Restaurants should not give customers raw dough to play with or eat.

For more information, see www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2016/o121-06-16/index.html

 

Reference to any specific commercial products, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation. Paid for by Kansas State University