CDC: Tainted Kellogg's Honey Smacks Are Still Giving People Salmonella Poisoning
"Advice to consumers: Do not eat any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal."
In June, some American cereal lovers suffered what was thought to be a temporary loss of a classic favorite, Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. The sticky-sweet, puffed wheat breakfast cereal was recalled en masse by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because they were found to carry traces of Salmonella, a dangerous bacteria that could cause severe food poisoning. Now, nearly three months later, the CDC is back with more bad news: Honey Smacks are still making people sick.
In a report released Tuesday, the CDC warned:
“Do not eat any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, regardless of package size or best-by date. Check your home for it and throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.”
Honey Smacks are still carrying traces of Salmonella Mbandaka, a strain of the bacteria that makes people very sick. According to the new report, 30 more people from 19 states have been reported ill from the outbreak since July 12, when the list was last updated. The tainted cereal has since shown up in three new states, including Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine. The total number of people who have been officially sickened by it is now up to 130.
See also: Honey Smacks Are Trash
It’s still not clear how the cereal came to be tainted by Salmonella or where in the production or distribution process it happened.
A map of all the states that have been affected by tainted Honey Smacks.
Wherever it came from, the symptoms and treatment for Salmonella infection remain the same. You’ll know if you have it. About 12 hours to three days after eating bacteria-ridden Honey Smacks, the diarrhea, fever, and/or painful abdominal cramps will start. These painful symptoms can last anywhere from four to seven days and usually clear up without treatment. But for some people — especially young kids and seniors — clearing the infection is harder. If not treated with antibiotics, Salmonella can travel from the gut to the bloodstream, spreading to other organs. Infections that severe usually require hospitalization.
Fortunately, at least when it comes to the tainted Honey Smacks, infection is easy enough to avoid. Just don’t eat it. As the CDC says, we still don’t know when or how the contamination occurred, so it’s not possible to say whether cereal produced before or after a certain date is safe to eat. “If you see Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal for sale, do not buy it,” the report states. “The FDA has become aware that recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal is still being offered for sale.”
Even if a greatly discounted box sounds like a sweet deal, trust us, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run by choosing a different breakfast.
