Duncan Hines Recalls 2.4 Million Boxes of Cake Mix for Salmonella Contamination
Duncan Hines Recalls 2.4 Million Boxes of Cake Mix for Salmonella Contamination
Four types of Duncan Hines cake mixes have been voluntarily recalled by parent company Conagra Brands over the potential risk of salmonella contamination. According to a USA Today news report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found salmonella in a sample of Duncan Hines’s Classic White cake mix. As a result Conagra has voluntarily recalled 2.4 million boxes of cake mix including Classic White and three other varieties – Classic Butter Golden, Signature Confetti and Classic Yellow.
Federal Agencies Issue Warnings
Conagra said they are issuing this recall of other products out of an “abundance of caution.” So far, five cases of salmonella are being investigated and multiple individuals involved said they consumed a cake mix at some point before they became ill. Some may have consumed these products raw instead of the baked product, according to the FDA. The cake mixes were distributed for retail sale in the United States. All of the cake mixes, sold in 15.25-ounce packages, have Best If Used by Dates on the top box of March 7-13, 2019.
Those who bought these mixes are advised not to consume them and return them to the place of purchase. FDA is warning consumers not to eat the raw cake mix because they could be made with ingredients such as eggs or flour and carry the risks of bacteria. After cooking, hands, work surfaces and utensils should be washed thoroughly especially after contact with raw batter products, the FDA states.
Salmonella Dangers and Liability Issues
Salmonella bacteria affect about 1.2 million people each year in the United States resulting in about 450 deaths and 23,000 hospitalizations annually. Some of the common symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after contact with the bacteria.
If you are experiencing similar symptoms, it is important that you get medical attention right away. If you have any of the leftover food that sickened you, please preserve it so it can be tested independently in a lab for the presence of pathogens. Report your illness to your local healthcare agency, which documents these types of outbreaks.
Keep a careful record of hours of work you missed due to the illness and any expenses you incurred in terms of hospitalization, diagnostic tests, medications, etc. Contact an experienced California food poisoning attorney who can help you seek and obtain fair compensation for all your losses.
