The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is asking consumers not to eat Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal following a reported outbreak of Salmonella infections in several U.S. states.
Salmonella Mbandaka Infection
As of June 14, there have been 73 people infected with Salmonella Mbandaka infections and 24 have been hospitalized with no reported deaths so far. The victims range in age, from less than a year to 87 years old and 65 percent of the affected are females.
The victims come from 31 states with New York having the most outbreak cases, with seven reported infected. California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania follow with five cases each.
The CDC narrowed the culprit to Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal following a survey conducted with the affected individuals about the food they consumed in the week before they became ill. Thirty of the 39 people interviewed reported eating cold cereal, while 14 specifically mentioned eating the Kellogg's product.
On June 14, Kellogg's issued a recall of its product following the reported Salmonella infection cases. The product removed its 15.3 and 23-ounce packages of Honey Smacks Cereal with product codes 3800039103, 3800014810 and "best used by" dates of June 14, 2018 to June 14, 2019. Meanwhile, the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and regulatory officials in several states, are still looking into the multistate Salmonella outbreak.
Reminders And Advice
In the meantime, the CDC has issued several advice and reminders for retailers and consumers of Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal. Retailers should not sell or serve the recalled product. Consumers are advised not to eat the cereal in any size package and to check their home for left-overs. It is best to throw away the product or return to the place of purchase for a refund.
The CDC likewise reminded consumers to play safe rather than risk getting the Salmonella Mbandaka infection. If some of the cereal has been consumed but no one got sick, it is still best to throw it away or ask for a refund. Containers used to store the Kellogg's cereal must be thoroughly washed with warm and soapy water to avoid contamination of other food.
According to Martin Wiedmann, a food scientist, the Salmonella bacteria can thrive in any type of food and can survive in a dry environment. Salmonella is typically found in dry factory goods but difficult to detect. However, today's advanced technology in detecting certain types of bacteria makes it possible to contain outbreaks early on.
