The Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak linked to recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal has ended, according to the CDC, after sickening 135 people in 36 states. Thirty-four people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
However, even though the actual outbreak is ended, public health officials are warning consumers that the danger still persists. This cereal has a very long shelf life, and some may still be in consumers’ homes.
In addition, two other products were recalled that were not linked to any illnesses; they were listed on FDA’s Enforcement Reports. These recalls weren’t announced to the general public.
Cheerios Protein Oats & Honey, in 19 oz. boxes with UPC number 16000-44473, and in 14.1 ounce boxes, with UPC number 16000-45137, was recalled on July 16, 2018, according to FDA data. The better if used by dates on those products are 05MAY2019, 06MAY2019, 07MAY2019, 08MAY2019, 09MAY2019, 10MAY2019. The reason given for the recall was “Cheerios Protein Oats and Honey cereal may be contaminated with Salmonella.” The second recalled product is Soy Honey Cluster 30 pound case, with Product code 30666529.137; Lot Numbers 0503825701, exp. 10/30/18; 0504825701, exp. 10/31/18; 0505825701, exp. 11/1/18; 0506825701, and exp. 11/2/18. The statement on that notice is: “an ingredient in this product was manufactured during the time-frame and on the same piece of equipment that was associated with a Salmonella outbreak.”
The Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that was linked to illnesses was recalled on June 14, 2018. The government expanded that recall to include all Honey Smacks cereal with a “best if used by” date of June 14, 2019 or earlier.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented clients sickened with Salmonella infections, said, “Even when you recover from this infection, there is still a risk you will develop a serious health complication in the future.” Call 1-888-377-8900 for help.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, “Any pathogenic bacteria in ready-to-eat products is going to make someone sick. No one should suffer just because they bought a box of cereal.”
The patient case count by state is: Alabama (2), Arizona (3), California (11), Colorado (2), Connecticut (4), Delaware (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (4), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (3), Maine (1), Maryland (2), Massachusetts (9), Michigan (4), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (2), Montana (2), North Carolina (5), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (5), New York (16), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (12), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (3), Texas (3), Utah (3), Virginia (5), Washington (3), Wisconsin (2), and West Virginia (4). The patient age range is from less than one year to 95. Thirty-four percent of patients were hospitalized.
In addition to most of those interviewed saying they ate Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal before they got sick, investigators found the outbreak strain fo Salmonella Mbandaka in a sample of unopened cereal collected from a retail location in California. The outbreak strain was also found in leftover Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal collected from the homes of ill persons in Montana, Utah, and New York. The bacteria isolated from the cereal and from patients were closely related genetically.
