General Mills flour recall is linked to Kansas City plant

Flour from the General Mills plant in Kansas City is the likely source an E. coli outbreak that affected 38 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

Since the start of the year, the CDC said, several states and the Food and Drug Administration have been investigating the outbreak, which spanned 20 states.

The CDC’s findings come a day after General Mills announced a voluntary recall of 10 million pounds of flour over concerns of possible E. coli contamination. The General Mills plant is on Guinotte Avenue in northeast Kansas City.

Half of the 38 people reported that they cooked with flour before feeling ill, the CDC’s report said. Twelve people said they used Gold Medal flour. The CDC said the flour used by people who became ill was produced during one week in November 2015 at the General Mills plant.

General Mills said Tuesday that, based on information shared with it, “some of the ill consumers may have also consumed raw dough batter.”

Company spokesman Mike Siemienas said General Mills conducted its own investigation into the possible connection and found the flour had been produced at the Kansas City plant. The recall includes Gold Medal, Signature Kitchen and Gold Medal Wondra flour brands. The CDC recommended that individuals, restaurants and retailers not use, serve or sell the recalled flours.

CDC spokeswoman Brittany Behm said the FDA and state agencies tested samples of the flour and found no E. coli. The recall was made “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the company announcement.

General Mills said it hasn’t been contacted directly by any customers reporting illnesses.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 6:28 PM with the headline "General Mills flour recall is linked to Kansas City plant."