When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issue a blunt “do not eat” warning, you know they mean business. Last week, the CDC issued two additional “do not eat” warnings via Twitter for Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. These two warnings come almost a month after the CDC issued a Honey Smacks recall alert on June 14th. Seriously guys, stop eating this cereal.
Kellogg’s Honey Smacks were officially recalled on June 14th after 73 cases of salmonella were reported throughout 31 states. 24 people who had taken ill with salmonella after eating Honey Smacks, between March 3rd and May 28th, had been hospitalized.
Now, as of July 12th, 100 cases of Salmonella in 33 states have been reported and 30 people have been hospitalized.
The CDC hypothesizes there may be more reports of illness to come. Some of those infected after June 19th may not have reported their sickness to doctors or the CDC yet. According to the CDC, salmonella usually takes about two to four weeks to be reported.
Health officials in affected states have tested Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, both from infected households and unopened boxes, and confirmed the cereal is carrying a strain of Salmonella Mbandaka. The outbreak has hit states across the country from California to Texas to New Hampshire, to name just a few.
OUTBREAK: An outbreak of 73 Salmonella infections from 31 states has been linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Do not eat recalled cereal. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. https://t.co/G5WyEiWp5A pic.twitter.com/YjqMTJbQYx
— CDC (@CDCgov) June 15, 2018
Although The Kellogg Company has recalled all Honey Smacks products being retailed within the cereal’s one-year shelf-life, the CDC recommends that Honey Smacks with any expiration date be removed from one’s household.
“Do not eat Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal of any size package or with any “best if used by” date,” the CDC website warns.
OUTBREAK Update: 100 Salmonella infections in 33 states linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Do not eat this cereal. https://t.co/G5WyEiWp5A pic.twitter.com/Fa8EF3izUu
— CDC (@CDCgov) July 12, 2018
Symptoms of salmonella usually come in the form of diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Salmonella sticks around in the body for about four to seven days and can usually clear up without treatment. But if diarrhea becomes so severe that dehydration sets in, hospitalization might be necessary. Salmonella also has the potential to spread to the bloodstream and other places within the body.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after consuming Honey Smacks, call your doctor and contact the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) to report your salmonella case.
