FDA investigating multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks
(FOX 11) - The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka infections linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks sweetened puffed wheat cereal.
130 people have been reported sick due to a multi-state outbreak of salmonella linked to Honey Smacks cereal, and federal health officials said Tuesday that some stores are still selling the recalled product.
No one should be buying or selling any form of Honey Smacks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
FDA Food tweeted out urging consumers: 'Seriously, get rid of Kellogg's HoneySmacks in the cabinets! CDCgov continues to get Salmonella illness reports linked to the cereal. Now- 130 confirmed infections in 34 states. Do NOT eat. Do NOT buy - retailers can NOT legally sell.
All Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal was recalled in June 2018. Because the CDC has continued to receive reports of illnesses linked to this cereal, we are reminding consumers not to eat Honey Smacks cereal.
Consumers should check their homes and throw away any Honey Smacks cereal.
The public is urged to report any product being offered for sale to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their region.
Kellogg launched an investigation with the third-party manufacturer who produces Honey Smacks immediately after being contacted by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding reported illnesses.
According to the CDC, use or consumption of products contaminated with Salmonella may result in serious illness. It can also produce serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella can experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE RECALLED PRODUCT
The affected product includes the following varieties distributed across the United States as well as limited distribution in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean, Guam, Tahiti and Saipan. The BEST if Used By Date can be found on the top of the cereal box, and the UPC code can be found on the bottom of the box.
Kellogg is asking that people who purchased potentially affected product discard it and contact the company for a full refund. Consumers seeking more information, including images of these products, can visit kelloggs.com/honeysmacksrecall or call 1-800-962-1413 from Monday - Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET.