Latest E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Unusual Source

  • Toss it if you’ve got it! You’ll want to rid your kitchen of this contaminated food ASAP!
  • Discover the one way you should never eat this food
  • Use this website to find out if your household is in danger of this growing outbreak… 

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, kidney failure, and potentially even death…

If you want to avoid these health outcomes, then you’ll need to check your pantry immediately.

E. coli is back.

And this time, it’s in an unsuspecting source.

You see, this outbreak isn’t from processed meats or perforated steaks. No, this time, it’s in over 10 million pounds of an everyday food.

In fact, this food is so common there’s a great chance it’s in your kitchen right now.

Don’t worry, though, Living Well Daily has got your back… we will share with you the exact recall information in just a bit.

So what’s this unlikely yet common source?

Flour.

--Widened Recall

General Mills (GM) first initiated a recall back in May. However, the recall was expanded to over 10 million pounds of this potentially toxic wheat powder just last week because of four new related food poisoning cases.

The recall includes brands such as Gold Medal Flour, Signature Kitchens Flour, and Gold Medal Wondra Flour.

The CDC isolated a Shiga toxin-producing strain of E. coli (STEC O121) from samples of General Mills flour collected from the homes of ill folks in Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma. This strain can cause serious kidney damage, and even death in some cases.

Forty-two people in 21 states have already fallen ill from the contaminated flour. Of these, 11 people were hospitalized.

At this point, no cases of kidney failure or deaths associated with the outbreak have been reported. But with such a large quantity of potentially contaminated product, this could change quickly.

Folks with compromised immune systems, seniors, and small children are at greatest risk. Bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps usually occur a few days after consumption. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical treatment stat.

--Dangerous Dough

According to a statement from GM, health officials linked an illness to raw dough or batter made with products produced last fall. These products are covered in the recall.

CDC officials warn that eating raw doughs and batters can have devastating health results. “Even tasting a small amount could make you sick.” This includes any raw flour products, regardless of whether they are on the recall list or not.

E. coli O121 can be destroyed through heat. This means you should always thoroughly cook, bake, fry, or boil any foods made with flour. In addition, be sure to thoroughly clean all cookware, utensils, and surfaces that have made contact with flour.

The CDC reports that if you are storing your flour without its original packaging or are unsure of its origins, you should throw it out immediately. Thoroughly sanitize the container before using it again.

If you have flour in its original packaging, you can click here to see if it is part of the recall. Any flour matching the recall criteria should be tossed instantly.

For questions, you can reach General Mills through this web page or call 1-800-230-8103.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily


Sources

[1] Flour recall

[2] Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 Infections Linked to Flour

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

How to Get Your Spouse to Go to the Doctor

The other day, a friend asked me if I thought her husband was trying to hide something because he wouldn’t go to the doctor. It’s a common scenario, I told her—research shows that many men avoid preventative care and doctor’s visits. (Some women are guilty of it, too.) But what if your spouse is clearly...

Read This

Glucose Guardians Discovered at the GROCERY Store!

A new meta-analysis suggests that the spices in your kitchen aren’t just bursting with flavor. They could also deliver hidden health benefits. That’s especially true if you’re concerned about keeping your blood sugar in check. Which, honestly, everyone should be—regardless of whether you’re diabetic or not. The recent study confirmed that several popular spices (some...

Read This

Mailbag: The TRUE Cause of Your Tingly Scalp

“Why do I feel a tingling sensation in my scalp when I’m stressed?” – Anonymous Hi Anonymous, About twenty years ago, I was running on a trail in the early morning light when a fox bolted from the cover. It ran beside me for a few yards before ditching into the woods. I’m guessing the...

Read This

The Hidden (and DEADLY) Cost of Convenience

In our fast-paced, modern world, we’re always on the go, juggling work, family, and social obligations. The frantic pace leaves little time for home-cooked meals. As a result, convenience has become king. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) swoop in to save the day. They beckon us with their bright packaging and promise of ready-to-eat, instant gratification. And...

Read This

Exercise Leaving You in Pain? Try THIS Natural Fix

One of the biggest barriers to building a regular exercise routine is that many folks feel fantastic right after a session, but then they pay for it the following day. Those post-exercise aches and pains alone are enough to prevent most people from even thinking about working out again. But what if I told you...

Read This

Caffeine’s Benefits Go BEYOND the Buzz

Over 60 percent of American adults drink coffee daily—enjoying the caffeine-induced energy boost to jumpstart their day. However, caffeine’s benefits don’t end with that temporary jolt of alertness. It has other potential payoffs, including reducing diabetes risk and body fat. Now, new research reveals those benefits can vary from person to person… and the surprising...

Read This

Live LONGER and HEALTHIER with the “Grocery Cart Challenge”

Nobody on the planet who grabs something from a vending machine, thinking, “This is a healthy choice.” So, if we KNOW it isn’t good for us, why do we do it? Well, often it’s for convenience. We’re hungry and in a hurry, so grab-and-go foods fit the bill. But that’s not the only reason we...

Read This

BEWARE of the “Coffee Trap” [UNDOES Benefits]

Longtime Living Well Daily readers know I love my coffee. Powerful antioxidants and other healthy compounds in coffee deliver various health benefits. In fact, studies confirm a regular coffee habit may reduce the risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s, and liver disease. It also provides a temporary boost in energy and focus that many people rely on...

Read This

Frailty Leads to a Shorter Painful Life? [Surprising FIX]

Aging sure isn’t for sissies. You have to be tough as nails to manage it gracefully. Everything gets a bit more challenging. Whether it’s diet, exercise, or reducing specific risk factors, you often have to work harder to get the same results. Eventually, all the so-called “diseases of aging” start nipping at your heels, from...

Read This

Mailbag: Taste Buds in Turmoil? The Cause of Metallic Mouth

“Should I be concerned about a metallic taste in my mouth? It happens on occasion but isn’t every day.” – Mark Hi Mark, Many people experience a metallic taste that will not go away, and it can be caused by several different things. The most common cause of “metallic mouth” is poor oral health. Gum...

Read This