Angela Gamble, Information, Advice and Guidance Manager, PACEY

In June, the Food Standards Agency issued guidance regarding using flour in play activities and recommended heat treating the flour.  We published the BLOG: Raw flour to share this advice and information with you.

The FSA guidance was updated on 19 August 2024.

Please be advised that the guidance applies to all types of flour including wheat, gluten free, corn, gram, and rice flour.

It now advises risk assessing play activities (the heating of flour prior to use has been removed).

The guidance states:

Here are some helpful tips to help you to prepare food using flour or flour products safely:

• do not eat or taste uncooked flour or flour products, such as pastry, cookie dough, pizza dough and batter, such as cake mix, unless labelling indicates they are ready to eat
• keep flour and flour mixes (e.g. bread or cake mix) in a sealed bag or container – flour can spread easily and contaminate other foods
• follow cooking, storage and handling instructions provided on the packaging
• wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling flour, uncooked pastry, or dough
• clean all surfaces properly – wash bowls, utensils, and surfaces with warm, soapy water or your usual surface cleaner and disinfect where necessary

Using flour or dough for crafts and play activities at home

When using uncooked flour or flour products not intended to be eaten e.g. dough for crafts and play, you may wish to use this advice to support how you manage the risks during these activities.

Operators of care settings or other businesses where children and older people are handling raw flour or raw flour products should also take account of this advice when considering how risks associated with these activities are managed as part of their risk assessment process. Children and older people may be more vulnerable to infection so additional care may be needed when handling these products.