The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people to return their boxes of the Kellogg’s cereal “Honey Smacks,” as it seems that the popular breakfast food isn’t just a good source of Vitamin D, but also the source of a recent Salmonella outbreak.
According to CBS News, Kellogg voluntarily recalled the cereal in mid-June after a third-party Honey Smacks manufacturer was contacted by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC about its link to recent Salmonella infections. Honey Smacks have been linked to over 100 cases of Salmonella in 33 states, with most infections being reported in New York. As of now, over 30 of the 100 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Salmonellosis poisoning is often caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, poultry, and eggs that are contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria, which live in the intestinal tracts of animals, according to the CDC. The illness usually lasts for 4-7 days, with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps presenting approximately 12 to 72 hours after infection. Although most cases resolve without treatment, in some cases, the infection may enter the bloodstream and infect other body tissues, requiring hospitalization and prompt administration of antibiotics. Younger children and older adults have weaker immune systems and thus are more likely to require serious medical care after being infected.
An enhanced electron micrograph image of Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria (red) invading cultured human cells (yellow).
Image Source: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH
Feature Image Source: Breakfast Cereals Milk Spoon by Free-Photos
