On the heels of the salmonella outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, a popular brand of cereal is the latest product to be linked to the bacterial disease in over 30 states, including Massachusetts.
According to the Center for Disease Control, over 100 people have become sick from an outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to recalled Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal. The CDC reports that the first instances of illness occurred back in March, although they were not reported until June.
The 33 states which have been effected so far include Massachusetts and it's bordering states of New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island among others. A map of the effected states and cases can be seen here.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and typically present 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. It is possible for Salmonella to travel from the intestines to the bloodstream and ultimately the rest of the body. Death is rare, but may occur if the person is not treated quickly with antibiotics. So far, no deaths have been reported in this particular outbreak.
The US Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have warned consumers not to ingest Honey Smacks and retailers currently cannot legally sell the Kellogg's cereal because of the chance of contamination. The FDA has advised the public to report any sales of the cereal to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their area.