Adding to an ever-growing list of foods that probably have to be avoided when going to your local grocery, it looks like even pancake and cake mixes might no longer be considered 100 percent safe for consumption due to E. coli.
In the latest mass recall to hit the U.S., Continental Mills' Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix and two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mixes are being pulled from supermarket shelves due to potentially tainted flour that was manufactured at a General Mills Facility.
Voluntary recall of 2 flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix. No other General Mills/Betty Crocker mixes are included: https://t.co/vt5mfY14gk
— Betty Crocker (@BettyCrocker) July 11, 2016
According to the FDA, the possible contaminant is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC O121), a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Although there have been no reported illnesses from either the pancake or cake mixes, the recall itself is tied to a much larger outbreak stemming from tainted General Mills flour that has so far sickened 42 people in 21 states.
As previously mentioned, it's only a specific set of Betty Crocker cake mixes that are affected by the recall — namely, Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix, Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Super Moist Rainbow Bit Cake Mix in Canada.
The Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix packages bear a UPC of 000-16000-40997 and "better if used by dates" including 25MAR2017, 28MAR2017, 27APR2017, 28APR2017, 23MAY2017, 24MAY2017 and 25MAY2017, while the Super Moist Rainbow Bit Cake Mix packages bear a UPC of 000-65633-46589 and "best by" dates of 27AL2017, 08JN2017 and 09JN2017.
Meanwhile, the Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix packages have a UPC of 000-16000-40987 and "better if used by dates" including 12APR2017, 13APR2017, 14APR2017, 28MAY2017, 29MAY2017, 30MAY2017, 07JUL2017 and 08JUL2017.
Similarly, the recall only affected specific lots of Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix manufactured between April 2016 and June 2016. Specifically, it includes Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix 28 oz. packages with a best by date code between 3/30/2018 and 6/16/2018 and a UPC code 041449001289; and Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake 3.5 lb. packages with a best by date code of 4/27/2018 or 4/28/2018, with a UPC code 041449001487.
Those who find they are customers seeking a refund from Continental Mills can call the company's customer relations team at 1-800-457-7744, while those with questions or who want to request Betty Crocker replacement products can call General Mills at 1-800-230-8103. Additional recall information can be found at www.generalmills.com/flour.
