Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating a massive Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak that has sickened over 100 people so far. The outbreak is thought to have originated at a contract manufacturing plant that produced the Kellogg’s Honey Smacks breakfast cereal. So far, three people in Washington State have reported coming down with the illness.
Kellogg’s has issued a recall for all of the affected cereal products after the FDA interviewed those who had gotten sick. The recall includes the 15.3-ounce and the 23-ounce packages of Honey Smacks cereal. The “best before” dates labeled on the packaging are from June 14th, 2018 through June 14th, 2019.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. It can require hospitalization for children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions. It can also cause kidney failure and internal infections in at-risk groups. For most healthy adults, the condition lasts just four to seven days and does not require hospitalization.
People usually come into contact with Salmonella by eating undercooked chicken or poultry. Another way the disease is transmitted is when a food processing plant manufactures more than one type of food product on their assembly lines. If the mechanical equipment, OSHA rules, and proper safety hygiene standards aren’t followed, a cross-contamination situation can occur.
What Should I Do If I Purchased Honey Smacks?
If you have a box of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks in your cupboard, throw it out and contact Kellogg for a full refund. They might require you to send in a proof of purchase via the UPC symbol on the back of the box.
Kellogg’s has set up a website with more information regarding the recall or you can call them at 1-800-962-1413. Even if the expiration dates on your box of Honey Smacks cereal doesn’t match up with the recall dates, you should probably throw the box in the trash. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
What Are My Options if I Got Sick?
If you or a loved one were injured by a defective product (in this case Kellogg’s Honey Smacks), you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to go over your options. For a claim or case to move forward, the following two conditions must be met:
- You must have suffered an injury
- The injury had to have occurred as a result of the negligence of the manufacturer.
To be eligible to file a claim or suit, you will need to have personally contracted Salmonella via eating the tainted cereal. Any medical records that you can provide to an attorney will be beneficial to your case.
Product Liability Attorney in Tacoma
If you or a loved one has contracted Salmonella Mbandaka during this time period and you think it might be due to your consumption of Honey Smacks, give our attorneys at Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel a call at (253) 472-6000.
We have helped many consumers seek legal remedy in a court of law due to the injuries they sustained from defective and damaged consumer products. Schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about how our attorneys can help you find the justice that you deserve.