Do Not Eat Honey Smacks, CDC Says After Salmonella Outbreak

NORTH CAROLINA—As a Salmonella outbreak linked to a popular breakfast cereal continues to spread, federal health officials are now warning the public to not eat any Honey Smacks whatsoever, regardless of the best-by date or packaging size.

The CDC, which in June announced the recall of Kellogg's Honey Smacks, this week issued a dire warning against consuming the cereal after 100 people nationwide have become ill. "Do not eat this cereal," the CDC tweeted. In North Carolina, four illnesses have been linked to the cereal.

Further information provided by the CDC in an outbreak report says people should not eat any Honey Smacks cereal, regardless of package size or best-by date. "Check your home for it and throw it away, or return it to the place of purchase for a refund," the CDC said.

The outbreak has now sickened 100 people in 33 states, according to CDC data. The most infections have so far been reported in New York, where 11 people have fallen ill, and Pennsylvania, where eight have.

Thirty people have been hospitalized due to the illness. There have been no deaths as of July 13, according to information from the CDC.

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Other states impacted by the outbreak include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas and beyond.

The Kellogg Company announced the recall last month, and said it covers 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. packages of Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal with a "best if used by" date from June 14, 2018 through June 14, 2019. The "best if used by" date is on the box top.

The recalled 15.3 oz. Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 39103. The recalled 23.0 oz. Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 14810. The UPC code is on the bottom of the box.

"Even if some of the cereal was eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest of it away or return it for a refund," the CDC warned. If you store cereal in a container and have discarded the packaging with the codes, just throw away any Honey Smacks cereal, the CDC advised.

Be sure to thoroughly wash the container "to remove harmful germs."

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The cereal looks like this:

The packaging looks like this:

Illnesses began in early March and have been reported through late May. Of the 73 people infected with the outbreak strain, 24 were hospitalized, the CDC said. Illnesses were reported in 31 states, including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, California and more. Click here to see the map of states included in the outbreak.

"In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Thirty of 39 people interviewed reported eating cold cereal. In interviews, 14 people specifically reported eating Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal," information from the CDC said in June.

Consuming products contaminated with salmonella can result in serious illness, health experts warn. It can also produce serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy individuals infected with salmonella can suffer fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, it can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Patch Editor Kara Seymour

Image via CDC