Kellogg’s Cereal the Latest on the Health Hazard Recall List

Kellogg’s Cereal the Latest on the Health Hazard Recall List

Kellogg Co. announced it was recalling approximately 1.3 million cases of its Honey Smacks cereal from more than thirty states due to the potential for Salmonella contamination.  The U.S. Food & Drug Administration said it worked with Kellogg to issue the recall after preliminary evidence linked the cereal to more than 60 cases of compromised health and illness.

“The FDA is working with the company to quickly remove this cereal from the marketplace,” the agency said.  The FDA also asked Kellogg to request that all retailers immediately put up signs saying Honey Smacks cereal has been recalled, warning consumers against purchasing it.

Kellogg launched an investigation with the third-party manufacturer that produces the cereal after being contacted by both the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The company said the potentially contaminated products had use by dates of June 14, 2018, through June 14, 2019.  The voluntary notice involves its 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. Honey Smacks packages.  No other Kellogg products are impacted.

The FDA is advising consumers to not eat and to discard any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal regardless of regardless of size or ‘best if used by’ dates just to be safe, however.  This is more expansive than what Kellogg had advised against in its warning.  The recall notice accounts for all of the product that is on the market within the cereal’s estimated one-year shelf-life.

“Honey Smacks products with earlier dates could also potentially be contaminated,” the agency said.

Earlier this month, the FDA warned residents across multiple states of recalled packages of pre-cut melon linked to a health outbreak.  They had been distributed to stores operated by Costco Wholesale Corp., Kroger Co., Walmart Inc., and Whole Foods.  The Food and Drug Administration indicted its updated list included 23 states that had received the fruit; they are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

In early 2018, more than 200 million eggs were also recalled after a health outbreak was traced to a farm in North Carolina.  An outbreak traced to chicken salad from a food processing company in Iowa made at least 265 people sick and led to one death.

The FDA and CDC are still warning consumers about all three outbreaks.  Luckily, no deaths have been reported.  The agency is also continually receiving information regarding other potential hazards and is ready to alert consumers of any new cases.

Salmonella can cause illness between 12 to 72 hours after ingesting the germ. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe,” according to the agency.

Salmonella is especially dangerous to certain consumer populations, including young children, especially frail individuals, elderly people, those with autoimmune disorders and others with weakened immune systems.  It causes an estimated 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths in the United States each year.

Sources:

Salmonella Outbreaks Affect Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal and Cut Fruit

Kellogg issues massive Honey Smacks cereal recall over Salmonella outbreak