The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned people not to eat uncooked flour. It is considered to be a raw agricultural product, which means that nothing has been done to remove germs that might be living in it, including bacteria like E. coli. When the flour is cooked, the germs are killed.
Illustrating that point, General Mills has announced a recall of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour in five-pound bags with a use-by date of April 20, 2020.
"Food safety is our top priority, and though we have not had any confirmed illnesses, we are voluntarily recalling this specific lot of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour to prevent potential illnesses," noted Jim Murphy, President of General Mills Meals and Baking Division. "This recall does not involve any other flour products, and we are continuing to educate consumers that flour is not a 'ready to eat' ingredient. Anything you make with flour must be cooked or baked before eating."