FDA Recalls Flour Products Over E. Coli Concerns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled Golden Temple, Swad and Maya flour products sold in the United States after determining that they could be contaminated with E. coli. According to a report in the Daily Hornet, the flour was produced by Ardent Mills, the same company that manufactured the Robin Hood brand flour distributed and recalled in Canada in March. Smucker has recalled these brands saying it is unaware of any E. coli infections linked to the recalled flour. The products were manufactured with the same Canadian wheat that Ardent Mills used in previously recalled items.

Those products have been blamed for at least 30 food poisoning cases in Canada, according to that country’s health officials who have launched an investigation into the E. coli outbreak. It’s not clear how much flour has been recalled. Affected products were packaged in 20-pound paper bags and sent out to 19 distributors and two small retailers across the U.S. Smucker is urging customers who have the products at home to dispose of them immediately.

E. Coli and HUS

An E. coli infection, which is often caused by contaminated food or water, cause severe symptoms ranging from severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Although most victims do get better within five to seven days, some infections can be severe and even life threatening. About 10 percent of E. coli infections could result in a condition called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome or HUS, which results in kidney failure.

HUS is a condition that affects the blood and blood vessels. It results in the destruction of blood platelets (cells involved in clotting), a low red blood cell count (anemia) and kidney failure due to damage to the very small blood vessels of the kidneys.

Symptoms of HUS could include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, pale skin, irritability, fatigue, fever, unexplained bruises or bleeding and decreased urination. Once this process begins, the damages red blood cells begin to clog the filtering system in the kidneys, which may eventually cause the life-threatening kidney failure associated with HUS.

If You Have Been Affected

Here are a few steps you can take if you have been sickened by these or other products. Get immediate medical attention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Isolate and preserve the suspect food so it can be independently tested in a laboratory for the presence of pathogens. Report your illness to the local healthcare agency, which tracks these types of illnesses and outbreaks. Save all your receipts and bills relating to expenses incurred as a result of your illness. Contact an experienced California food poisoning attorney who will work to protect your rights and hold the food producer accountable.