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04/14/2008
Salmonella
Illnesses in Multiple States may be Linked to Recently Recalled
Cereal
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that at least
23 people in 14 states have been diagnosed with salmonellosis that
was caused by the same strain of Salmonella that was found in the
recently recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed
Wheat Cereals produced by Malt-O-Meal.
The recalled
products were distributed nationally under the Malt-O-Meal brand
name as well as under private label brands including Acme, America's
Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark,
Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. The cereals have "Best
If Used By" dates from April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808")
through March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809").
Consumers should
throw out any product in their homes from these recalled lots. Grocery
stores and other retailers should promptly remove the cereals from
their shelves.
Salmonella
is a type of bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal
infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others
with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of foodborne Salmonella infection
include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella
can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.
Individuals who believe they may have experienced an illness consistent
with the symptoms described above after consuming a puffed wheat
or puffed rice cereal made by Malt-O-Meal should contact their health
care practitioner immediately and report the illness to their state
or local health authorities.
On April 5,
2008, Malt-O-Meal
voluntarily recalled the cereals because the company's routine
testing found Salmonella in a product produced on March 24, 2008.
The FDA is
working with Malt-O-Meal to determine the cause of the contamination
and with the states and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
to identify and prevent additional illnesses.
A full list
of recalled products can be found at www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo.
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