Kellogg’s announced the recall after receiving word from the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that Honey Smacks likely sickened 73 people in 31 states, including 24 hospitalizations.
Affected products were distributed nationwide, as well as in Guam, Saipan, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean and Tahiti.
The recalled Honey Smacks were packaged in 15.3-ounce and 23-ounce boxes, feature “use-by” dates of June 14, 2018, thru June 14, 2019, and UPC codes of 3800039103 and 3800014810.
Eating food contaminated with salmonella bacteria can cause salmonellosis, a common foodborne illness that causes the following symptoms within 12 to 72 hours after consumption:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Fever
- Headache
Salmonellosis typically lasts four to seven days, but in some cases the diarrhea is so severe that it requires the patient to be hospitalized to treat the dehydration. Children, the elderly population, and patients with compromised immune systems are especially likely to develop severe reactions to salmonella.
Kellogg’s said it is investigating a third-party manufacturer that produces the cereal to determine the source of the contamination. FDA is inspecting the facility that produces the Honey Smacks to collect additional information.
If you purchased any Honey Smacks affected by the recall, FDA says you should either discard them immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone concerned about a salmonella illness should contact their physician right away.
Source: CBS News
Editor’s note: For more information on food poisoning outbreak lawsuits and your legal rights, please contact the nationally recognized food poisoning lawyers at Ron Simon & Associates. Ron Simon’s groundbreaking work on behalf of victims in recent national foodborne illness outbreaks has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media.Click Here to learn more about the law firm and for a Free Confidential Case Consultation