Author: Phyllis Entis

24 hospitalized in Salmonella outbreak linked to Kellogg cereal

Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks® sweetened puffed wheat cereal has been linked to 73 cases of Salmonella Mbandaka illnesses in 31 states across the USA according to a report released yesterday evening (June 14th) by CDC.

Epidemiological evidence, based on interviews of some of the outbreak victims, pointed the finger at the Kellogg’s cereal.

The Kellogg Company announced an entire year’s range of ‘Best if used by’ dates in a recall notice posted shortly before the CDC news release.

The recalled items are:
Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks® cereal (23-oz pkg; UPC 3800014810; Best if used by JUN 14, 2018 through JUN 14, 2019)
Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks® cereal (15.3-oz pkg; UPC 3800039103; Best if used by JUN 14, 2018 through JUN 14, 2019)

Both package sizes were distributed nationwide in the USA. There was also limited distribution of the 15.3-oz package sizes in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean, Guam, Tahiti and Saipan.

According to the recall notice, the Honey Smacks cereal was manufactured for Kellogg by a third party. FDA has launched an inspection of the manufacturing facility.

The outbreak began the first week in March, with the most recent illness onset reported as May 28th. CDC warns that more recent illnesses likely have not yet been reported, and the toll of the outbreak is expected to grow. It usually takes 2-4 weeks between the time a person falls ill with salmonellosis and the time CDC receives a report.

Of the 73 confirmed outbreak victims, roughly two-thirds are female. Ages of the victims range from less than one year to 87 years of age. Twenty-four of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized.

Confirmed cases have been reported from the following states: Alabama (2), Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (3), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (5), Maryland (1), Michigan (4), Mississippi (1), Montana (1), North Carolina (3), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New York (7), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), Virginia (4), Washington (3), Wisconsin (1), West Virginia (3).

CDC offers the following advice to consumers, restaurants and retailers

  • Do not eat recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Check your home for the recalled cereal and throw it away, or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
    • Even if some of the cereal was eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest of it away or return it for a refund.
    • If you store cereal in another container without the packaging and don’t remember the brand or type, throw it away.
    • Thoroughly wash the container with warm, soapy water before using it again, to remove harmful germs that could contaminate other food.
  • Contact a healthcare provider if you think you got sick from consuming recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal
  • Retailers should not sell or serve recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal.

The recalled cereal – especially in the 15.3-oz size – was in wide distribution across the USA. As of June 15, the following retailers have posted their own recall notices and product alerts. Please follow the links to access your retailer’s web site. This is not a comprehensive list, as some retailers are faster to respond than others.

Big Y
Brookshires
Department of Defense Commissary Agency – both 15.3-oz and 23-oz package sizes
Food City
Food Lion
Giant Food
Hannaford
Harris Teeter
Kroger Group – Kroger stores located in Georgia; South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama; Greater Cincinnati (including Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio plus South Eastern Indiana); Central and Northwest Ohio; Northwestern Virginia panhandle; Michigan; Indiana (except SE Indiana, -Evansville-); Illinois; Eastern Missouri;  Hopkinsville and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Greater Memphis area, Tennessee; Arkansas; Mississippi; Western Kentucky; Jay-C, Roundy’s Wisconsin, Dillons, King Soopers, Fry’s, Kwik Stop, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, QFC, Smiths
Lucky
Martin’s
Meijer
Price Chopper
Publix
Rite Aid
Save Mart
Schnucks
ShopRite
Stop & Shop
Super 1 Foods
Target
Walmart

 

OUTBREAK ALERT: Salmonella illnesses trigger Kellogg cereal recall

The Kellogg Company is recalling 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. packages of Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks® cereal after receiving word from FDA and CDC of reported Salmonella illnesses.

The recalled products include:
Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks®, 15.3 oz. Best if Used By dates from JUN 14, 2018 through JUN 14, 2019; UPC 3800039103.
Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks®, 23 oz. Best if Used by dates from JUN 14, 2018 through JUN 14, 2019; UPC 3800014810

Both product sizes were distributed across the USA. In addition the 15.3 oz size was distributed in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the Caribbean, Guam, Tahiti and Saipan.

The recalled product was manufactured for Kellogg by a third party.

Neither FDA nor CDC have posted information yet on the number of Salmonella illnesses or their geographic distribution.

Although uncommon, Salmonella contamination of a breakfast cereal is not unprecedented. In 1998, an outbreak that encompassed at least 209 people in eleven US states was traced to Millville Toasted Oats breakfast cereal contaminated with Salmonella Agona. The Millville cereal was manufactured by Malt-o-Mill, Inc., a Minnesota company.

Kellogg is asking people who purchased potentially affected product to 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.

Recalls and Alerts: June 10 – 13, 2018

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

Outbreak Alert / Food Safety Recall Update: CDC and FDA report that Iowa has been added to the list of states where pre-cut melon linked to an active Salmonella Adelaide outbreak has been distributed.

Allergy Alert: J Bar B Foods recalls H-E-B TEXAS HERITAGE SAUSAGE SMOKED WITH NATURAL HARDWOOD BEEF BRISKET (12 oz. vacuum-packed pkgs; various lot codes and sell-by dates) due to undeclared pork. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot codes. The recalled product was shipped to retail locations in Texas.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Dave’s Pet Food recalls Dave’s Dog Food 95% premium beef cans (13-oz cans; Date code 08/2020; UPC 85038-11167) due to elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone. The recalled product was distributed all along the east coast of the US, sold in pet stores and ecommerce sites.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Labatt Breweries of Canada recalls Stella Artois brand beer (330 ml bottles; various product codes and UPCs) due to potential presence of foreign matter (pieces of glass). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected product, which was supplied to retailers in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

Europe

Allergy Alert (France): Maison Sapresti recalls Tresse Chèvre Miel (6 pieces/720g; Lot 18145; Best before 24/06/2018) due to undeclared molluscs, crustaceans, celery and fish.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Antaar&S S.p.A. recalls CONAD Potato Leek purée (175g; Lot L35761; Best before 22/06/2018) due to undeclared gluten.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Jet Import NV recalls Fulfil White Chocolate & Cookie Dough Vitamin & Protein Bar (55g; Lot #L7318/J; Best before 15-02-2019) due to potential foreign matter (small pieces of plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Euro-East Oy recalls Dovgan buckwheat (1000g bags; Best before 22 March 2019) due to ochratoxin contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Natures Aid recalls Natures Aid Standardised Turmeric (High Potency Turmeric extract providing 95% Curcumins; All batch codes and best before dates; Product of United Kingdom) due to high levels of curcumin.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Blue Sky Foods trading under The Food Company recalls The Food Company Garlic, Chilli and Thai Basil (240g glass jar; Best before 29 Sep 2019) due to potential microbial contaminatiion.