CDC issues warning about Honey Smacks
A salmonella outbreak linked to the popular Kellogg’s cereal has infected 100 people, the CDC announced Thursday.
A salmonella outbreak ATLANTA — linked to a popular Kellogg’s cereal has infected 100 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
The agency is urging consumers to avoid Honey Smacks, a sugary puffed wheat cereal which has been the subject of a recall by the company since mid-June. At least 30 of the 100 have been hospitalized, while no deaths have been reported, the CDC said.
“Do not eat Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal of any size package or with any ‘best if used by’ date,” it wrote.
“Do not eat this cereal,” the CDC said bluntly in a tweet.
The agency has said that it has found salmonella stains in unopened and leftover samples of Honey Smacks. Though the recall covers cereal with a best-by date of June 14, 2018, through June 14, 2019, the agency is recommending people avoid the cereal altogether.
According to Reuters, the company recalled an estimated 1.3 million cases of the cereal but the FDA said Thursday that it believes the cereal is still being sold by some stores. “Retailers cannot legally offer the cereal for sale and consumers should not purchase Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal,” it wrote.
The cases have been reported in 33 states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Maryland and Virginia.
According to the CDC, salmonella is responsible for about 1.2 million illnesses and 450 deaths a year.