When it comes to food recalls, many of us probably know that raw meat and sometimes dairy can be a potential danger. Still, we often think that certain prepackaged foods or that vegetables are inherently more safe than certain other foods are. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true. Those who have been paying attention to the news know that there was a nationwide recall of romaine lettuce as a result of E. coli contamination.
Though that recall has ended, there’s unfortunately a new recall of a product you might not expect.
On June 14th, Kellogg’s recalled a range of their cereal products as a result of salmonella contamination.
According to the CDC’s official website, the recall applies specifically to Honey Smacks cereal:
“On June 14, 2018, the Kellogg Company recalled 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. packages of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal has a “best if used by” date from June 14, 2018 through June 14, 2019. The “best if used by” date is on the box top. The recalled 15.3 oz. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 39103. The recalled 23.0 oz. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 14810. The UPC code is on the bottom of the box.”
While no deaths have been reported linked to these products, the CDC reported that 73 salmonella illnesses were.
These cases were found in 31 different states, namely Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi,. Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Of these states, New York, Massachusetts, California and Pennsylvania have been hit the hardest.
As a result, Kellogg’s and the CDC are recommending consumers throw out any boxes marked from June 14th, 2018 to June 14th, 2019.
Those who fear they may have contracted salmonella should look out for any potential symptoms.
Typically, the effects of the illness become readily apparent within 12 to 72 hours after ingesting contaminated food. Common symptoms may include fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Although no deaths have yet been reported, salmonella poisoning can lead to complications and can be fatal, particularly to young people, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system.
The initial illnesses were reported between March 3rd and May 28th.
Although the advisory above stands, the CDC also mentioned that some people may not have come down with the illness yet and that the numbers could rise in the coming weeks. For their part, the company also released a statement in conjunction with the FDA:
“We’re committed to helping make sure Americans can have confidence that the food they buy is safe, and to alerting consumers quickly when we learn about risks and unsafe products . . . Recalls are a cornerstone of our consumer protection mission. Today’s action is part of the commitment we made earlier this year to act quickly in response to identified risks and to notify consumers early in the course of our investigations.”
The full text is available on the FDA’s website. Let your friends know!
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