CDC to hold online COVID-19 webinar on Wednesday, March 18

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold an informational webinar tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PDT).

Experts from CDC will discuss the current state of the pandemic, what CDC is doing to respond, and how partners, organizations, and the public can help.

The webinar may be viewed on Facebook at the CDC's Emergency Preparedness and Response page.

Closed captioning for the hearing impaired will be available.

General Mills expands E.coli flour recall

There's another nationwide food scare of which everyone needs to be aware, this time involving baking flour and cake mixes.

As a result of determinations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, General Mills has recalled some of its flour and cake mix products because they may be infected with E. coli bacteria. Several instances of food borne illnesses have been traced to the consumption of uncooked batter and dough made with raw flour.

The problem was first identified a few months ago, followed by additional notices, most recently on July 25, 2016.

Approximately 50 people have become ill as a result of the contamination, 13 of them hospitalized, one of those with a form of kidney failure.

General Mills said that the problem has not been linked to products that were properly cooked. The danger exists only if uncooked dough or raw flour is consumed.

The company recommends that you check the published lists of affected products (see links below) to see if you have any of them. if so, you should write down the product name, UPC code (bar code), & Better if Used By Date, throw the product away, then contact General Mills for a replacement coupon.

For more information, click on the following links:

May 31 Press Release

July 1 Press Release

July 11 Press Release

General Mills Blog