Honey Smacks Recall: What to Know About Salmonella Symptoms After CDC Alert

Honey Smacks has found itself at the heart of a new health warning. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement Thursday that the Kellogg’s cereal has been linked to an outbreak of salmonella disease in multiple states, and it’s advising people to throw away affected packages or ask for a refund.

The Food and Drug Administration, working with the center and officials at the state level, have identified 73 people from 31 states infected with the Salmonella Mbandaka strain. While no deaths have been reported, 24 people have been taken to a hospital. Illness reports range from March 3 to May 28, but it can take between two and four weeks for symptoms to materialize, meaning illnesses from after May 22 may take time to appear.

It’s the latest in a series of salmonella warnings from the center this year. In March, a warning was issued after the plant drug Kratom was linked to 87 people infected in 35 states. The following month, 206 million eggs were identified as part of another salmonella outbreak, an outbreak that spread to 12 more people the following month.

What to Do if Your Cereal Is Affected

The Kellogg’s Company has issued a recall for affected packages. This covers packages weighing 15.3 ounces and 23 ounces. Recalled cereals will have a “best if used by” date on the top that reads between June 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019. The smaller cereals affected have a UPC code on the bottom that reads 38000 39103, while the larger packs have one that reads 38000 14810.

The center recommends throwing the cereal away or asking for a refund, even if nobody got sick from eating some of it. If the cereal is stored in a container without packaging, play it safe and throw it away. Be sure to wash the container with warm, soapy water to avoid contamination.

What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?

The center reports that most people will develop diarrhea, fever, or abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after infection. The symptoms can last anywhere between four and seven days, and for most people, they don’t require treatment. Bowel movements can take several months to return to normal.

While most healthy people won’t need to take severe action, some may experience such severe diarrhea that they require hospitalization. Young children, older people and people with weaker immune systems are more at risk from these issues.