General Mills flour recall causes nationwide pancake mix recall

The General Mills Inc. recall of 30 million pounds of flour linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak continues to cause other companies to recall products, with Continental Mills Inc. now pulling back Krusteaz blueberry pancake mix from retailers nationwide.

“The company was notified by our supplier that their product, a blueberry nugget, is made with a small percentage of affected flour which was recalled by General Mills because it may be contaminated with E. coli O121,” according to the Continental Mills recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website.

Continental Mills states “no illnesses have been reported to date” in the notice, but there have in fact been 42 people across 21 states confirmed as victims of the outbreak linked to the recalled General Mills flour.

Only Krusteaz blueberry pancake mix produced between April and June this year is covered by the recall. It was sold in two different sizes:

• 28-ounce cartons with best-by date codes between March 30, 2018 and June 16, 2018 and a UPC code of 041449001289; and
• 3.5-pound bags with best-by date codes of April 27, 2018, or April 28, 2018, a UPC code of 041449001487.

“Please contact our consumer relations team at 800-457-7744 for information to receive a full refund. Please dispose of the product,” the Continental Mills recall states.

“The quality and safety of our products is of the utmost importance and we are doing everything possible to ensure our customers have all of the pertinent information,” said Andy Heily, president of the Tukwila, WA, company in the recall notice.

“We are working with our retail customers and the FDA to ensure any affected product is removed from the marketplace immediately.”

Anyone who has developed symptoms of E. coli infection after eating the recalled pancake mix, is encouraged to see a doctor and be tested.

E. coli O121 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

The very young, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

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