CDC: Don’t Eat Any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal
A week after a salmonella outbreak was linked to a Kellogg's cereal, the government is now expanding their warnings.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that if you have any Honey Smacks cereal, you shouldn't eat it regardless of its size or "best if used by" date. The advisory had initially only applied to 15.3 ounce and 23 ounce boxes of Honey Smacks with a "best if used by" date between June 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019.
Last week, Battle Creek's Kellogg Company recalled Honey Smacks within that criteria. They have not yet announced an expanded recall, and it's not known if they will do so. When announcing the initial recall, Kellogg said they began investigating the third-party manufacturer who produces the cereal, after they were contacted by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.
The CDC says that the Honey Smacks are linked to an outbreak of salmonella affecting 73 people in 31 states. They say of the 39 people they interviewed, 77% of them reported eating cold cereal, while 14 people specifically mentioned Kellogg's Honey Smacks; that's more than any other cereal or food item.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause symptoms of diarrhea, fever, and cramping, and lasts for a few days. Most people should recover without treatment, but children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems can face more severe illness.