(Bloomberg) -- General Mills Inc. is voluntarily recalling anestimated 10 million pounds (4.5 million kilograms) of flour overE. coli concerns after customers who used the baking staplereported getting sick during the last five months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionfound that approximately half of the 38 people who were infectedwith a specific strain of E. coli had reported making somethingwith flour before getting sick, General Mills said in a statementTuesday. The company added that “some of the ill consumers may havealso consumed raw dough or batter.” The outbreak, which began inDecember, has spanned 20 states.

Safely handle flour

“We felt it was important to not only recall the product andreplace it for consumers if there was any doubt, but also to takethis opportunity to remind our consumers how to safely handleflour,” said Liz Nordlie, president of General Mills’ bakingdivision.

General Mills hasn’t actually found the E. coli strain in any ofits flour products or in the flour manufacturing plant. TheMinneapolis-based company hasn’t been contacted directly by anyconsumers reporting illnesses.

The recall covers six types of flour sold under the Gold Medal, Wondra and Signature Kitchen brands.

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