Pillsbury Recalls 12,000 Pounds of Flour Due to Salmonella Concerns
Last week supermarket chain Publix (which has locations spanning the southeastern United States), released a statement on their website stating that Hometown Food Company — the makers of Pillsbury, Hungry Jack, and Funfetti products, amongst others — issued a voluntary recall on Pillsbury Unbleached All Purpose Flour products because they may be contaminated with salmonella.
Three days later, the CDC tweeted a recall alert, confirming that Hometown Food Company is voluntarily recalling two specific lot codes of the very common pantry staple. Fellow southeastern supermarket chain Winn-Dixie was also affected, but it seems that the specific products are only sold at those those two supermarket companies.
The specific information on the exact Pillsbury Unbleached All Purpose Flour products affected are as follows:
- Lot Code, or “Best If Used By Date”: 8 292 APR 19 2020 and 8 293 APR 20 2020
- GTIN # (a type of UPC code): 0 5150022241 3
“Roughly 12,185 cases of impacted Pillsbury Unbleached All Purpose Flour product were distributed through a limited number of retailers and distributors nationwide,” Publix says in a statement on their website. “No other Pillsbury products are impacted by this limited, voluntary recall and are safe to consume. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase for a refund.”
(Just to say it, this item is extremely common, and I assumed I wouldn’t be affected, but there are Publix stores near my home — who knew! — and near my extended family members, who bake all the time. So, you know — go check your pantry, and maybe call your auntie, too.)
When it comes to salmonella poisoning, there are a few easy steps you can take in order to prevent contamination — especially in flour. First, don’t eat raw flour, even when it takes on the delicious form of raw cookie dough.
Almost every year around the Christmas season, the CDC re-ups its warning against consuming raw cookie dough in any form. This past year was no different, but now, in March, a real hazardous situation involving flour has occurred, although no one has become sick — and let’s hope it stays that way.
I’m going to pat the CDC on the back and let them say “we told you so.”