The Centers for Disease Control has issued a warning to cereal lovers after boxes of Honey Smacks cereal were linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak.
The potentially tainted cereal was distributed across the United States, as well as limited distribution in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean, Guam, Tahiti and Saipan.
The CDC saidthat 73 people from 31 states have reported feeling ill and 24 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Kellogg has launched an investigation into how the cereal could have been contaminated.
The company “is asking that people who purchased potentially affected product discard it and contact the company for a full refund,” according to their website.
The potentially affected boxes have “Best If Used By” dates of June 14, 2018 – June 14, 2019 and have the following UPC codes: 15.3 ounces: 3800039103; 23 ounces: 3800014810.
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Salmonella may result in serious illness, and “can also produce serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems,” according to the CDC.
Healthy individuals can “experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain,” adds the CDC. The infection normally lasts 4 to 7 days, and most can recover without treatment. In rare circumstances, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause more serious illnesses.
The recall comes as the CDC also warned about the presence ofsalmonella in cut melon.
On Tuesday, theCDC released a statementthat Caito Foods, LLC recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut mixed-fruit boxes that contained any of those melons
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“The investigation is ongoing to determine if products went to additional stores or states,” the CDC said in the statement.
The salmonella outbreak has affected 60 people in five states so far, 31 of whom have been admitted to the hospital. No deaths have been reported
Of the people affected, most reported eating pre-cut melon or fruit salad mix purchased from grocery stores. Products have been recalled fromCostco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts,Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart and Whole Foods/Amazon.
source: people.com
