Dean James III%  RIGHT WING TRIBUNE 

BREAKING: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat or buy Kellogg’s Honey Smacks amid renewed concerns over salmonella contamination.

All Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal was voluntarily recalled in June, but the FDA has issued an updated warning after people continued to become ill.

The FDA said in a press release that they are investigating a multi-state salmonella Mbandaka outbreak linked to the sweetened puffed wheat cereal. Officials say 36 people have been hospitalized and 130 sickened.

Here’s the report:

FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal

The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of SalmonellaMbandaka infections linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks sweetened puffed wheat cereal.

Update – August 31, 2018

All Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal was recalled in June 2018. Because the CDC has continued to receive reports of illnesses linked to this cereal, we are reminding consumers not to eat Honey Smacks cereal.

Recommendations

Consumers should check their homes and throw away any Honey Smacks cereal.

Additionally, the public is urged to report any product being offered for sale to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their region. See additional information about the recall.

The cereal has been linked to illnesses in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

What’s the Problem and What’s Being Done?

• On May 17, 2018 the FDA learned about a cluster of Salmonella Mbandaka illnesses in multiple states.
• In the following weeks, the FDA, CDC, and state partners worked together to collect additional information to identify a food item of interest. Interviews with ill people allowed health partners to identify Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal as a possible source of the illnesses.
• As a result of discussions with the Kellogg company and the contract manufacturer, on June 14, 2018,The Kellogg Company voluntarily recalled Honey Smacks cereal.
• On June 14, 2018 the FDA began collecting environmental and product samples from the contract manufacturer’s facility.
• On June 15, 2018 the FDA updated our web posting to include a list of known countries where the recalled product was distributed and to advise that consumers not eat and discard any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal.
• On July 12, 2018 the FDA and CDC updated their web posting to include additional cases linked to this outbreak. We also reminded consumers and retailers that the cereal has been recalled and should not be consumed or sold.

What Products are Recalled?

The recall notice accounts for all Honey Smacks cereal on the market within the cereal’s estimated one-year shelf-life. However, Honey Smacks products with earlier dates could also potentially be contaminated.

What are the Symptoms of Salmonella Infections?

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.

In some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonellainfection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Who is at Risk?

Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis. The rate of diagnosed infections in children less than five years old is higher than the rate in all other people. Children younger than five, the elderly, and those people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. It is estimated that approximately 400 persons in the United States die each year with acute salmonellosis.

What Do Restaurants and Retailers Need To Do?

Retailers should not sell and should discard all recalled products. The recalled products were distributed across the United States including Guam and Saipan, and internationally in:
Aruba/Curaçao/Saint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), the Bahamas, Barbados, Tortola (British Virgin Islands), Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and Tahiti (French Polynesia).

Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. It is recommended that they wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.

• Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators regularly.
• Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to prepare, serve, or store food.
• Wash hands with hot water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

What Do Consumers Need To Do?

The FDA is advising consumers to not eat and discard any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. This is regardless of size or “best if used by” dates. If already purchased, consumers should throw it away or return to the place of purchase for a refund. The FDA continues to collect information to determine any additional sources. The FDA will update this posting as soon as more information becomes available.

Consumers should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. It is recommended that they wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WE URGE YOU TO SHARE THIS.

GOD BLESS.

Dean James III%  RIGHT WING TRIBUNE 

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