Honey Smacks recall expanded after 73 fall ill
The federal government is expanding its recall of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that has been linked to a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infections.
The outbreak has sickened people in 31 states, including Connecticut.
On Thursday of last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was voluntarily recalling 15.3- and 23-ounce packages of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal because the products could contain salmonella.
By Friday night, both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had expanded the recall to include Honey Smacks cereal of any sized package and with any “best if used by” date. Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of the outbreak.
PulseNet is a national network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the CDC.
So far, the government has tracked 73 illnesses in 31 states — including three in Connecticut — linked to the outbreak, and 24 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The FDA and CDC are asking consumers to throw out any Honey Smacks in their homes or return the cereal to the place of purchase for a refund. Also, retailers should not sell or serve recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal.
According to the CDC, even if some of the cereal has been eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest of it away or return it for a refund.
Those who store cereal in a container without the packaging and don’t remember the brand or type should throw it away. Thoroughly wash the container with warm, soapy water before using it again to remove harmful germs that could contaminate other food.