CDC Warns Consumers Not to Eat Honey Smacks After Salmonella Outbreak
CDC Warns Consumers Not to Eat Honey Smacks After Salmonella Outbreak
A salmonella outbreak linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that has infected 100 people across several states has prompted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to issue a blunt warning: Just don’t eat it. According to a news report in The Washington Post, the CDC is urging consumers to avoid the popular cereal, a sugary, puffed wheat cereal, which the company has recalled since mid-June following reports of salmonella infections.
Outbreak Affects More Than 100s
At least 30 of the 100 food poisoning victims have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported so far. The CDC is telling consumers not to eat Honey Smacks cereal of any size package or with any “best by” date. “Do not eat this cereal,” the CDC said bluntly in a tweet. The agency has reported finding salmonella strains in unopened and leftover samples of Honey Smacks. Even though the recall covers cereal with a best-by date of June 14, 2018, through June 14, 2019, the agency is recommending that people simply not eat the cereal at all.
Kellogg’s recalled an estimated 1.3 million cases of the cereal, but the Food and Drug Administration says it still believes some store are still selling the products. Consumers should know that it is illegal for retailers to offer them. The illnesses relating to these products have been reported in 33 states including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland and Virginia. The company launched an investigation into a third-party manufacturer in mid-June who produces the cereal after learning about the infections. Federal inspectors have examined the production site.
Food Poisoning Lawsuits
The CDC estimates that salmonella is responsible for nearly 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths each year. The cause of a vast majority of these outbreaks is contaminated food. Symptoms of salmonella infections could last for a week or more and may include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
Food producers, processors, manufacturers and servers have a responsibility to ensure that the products are safe for consumers. If you have been sickened as the result of any food product that is contaminated or defective, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, permanent damage to your health, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced California food poisoning lawyer will be able to better advise you regarding your legal rights and options.
