Update: Malt-O-Meal Puffed Rice Cereal Salmonella Agona Outbreak
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According to the CDC, 21 people in 12 states that have been infected with the same genetic fingerprint of Salmonella Agona. A federal and state investigation of the Salmonella Agona outbreak that includes interviews of persons with Salmonella Agona infections and comparison of DNA fingerprints suggests that cereal from Malt-O-Meal unsweetened Puffed Rice Cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals is likely related to these illnesses.
Investigation of the Salmonella Outbreak: DNA Fingerprints
On March 24, 2008, Malt-O-Meal Company, a Minnesota cereal manufacturer, detected the presence of Salmonella during routine food testing. 11 days later, on April 5, 2008, Malt-O-Meal initiated a recall of unsweetened Puffed Rice Cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced during the past 12 months at the plant in Minnesota where the food was tested. Read more about the Malt-O-Meal recall.
On April 7, 2008, PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, independently notified CDC's OutbreakNet Team of a cluster of human Salmonella Agona isolates with an indistinguishable PFGE pattern (outbreak pattern) in multiple states. (OutbreakNet is the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide)
On April 10, 2008, CDC was informed by several state health departments that patients infected with Salmonella Agona with the outbreak pattern had eaten Malt-O-Meal cereal products. On April 11, the Minnesota State Public Health Department confirmed that the Salmonella isolate isolated from the Minnesota plant was Salmonella Agona and had the same indistinguishable PFGE pattern as the isolates from ill humans. Additionally, the Delaware Public Health Laboratory isolated Salmonella Agona from an opened bag of Puffed Rice cereal produced by the same company.
One Reported Case of Salmonella in Illinois May Be Linked to Recalled Cereal
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The Illinois Department of Health has reported one case of Salmonella in a person who reported eating cereal that is part of the Malt-O-Meal recall, which involves Malt-O-Meal unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat with “best if used by” dates ranging from APR0808 (April 8, 2008) to MAR2909 (March 29, 2009) sold under the Malt-O-Meal brand and several other brands, including Acme, America’s Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, Shoprite, Tops and Weis Quality. Tests are still pending.
Dr. Damon T. Arnold, state public health director, is warning consumers not to eat the recalled puffed rice and puffed wheat cereal due to possible Salmonella contamination. Malt-O-Meal recalled the cereal after the company’s internal routine food safety testing found Salmonella. A link between the cereal and Salmonella cases has not yet been confirmed.
“I want people to check their shelves for the recalled puffed rice or puffed wheat cereals and get rid of them. Although it has not yet been confirmed that this cereal has caused people to become ill, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Either take the cereal back to the store where you bought it for a refund or throw it out, but just make sure you don’t eat it,” said Dr. Arnold.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Salmonella poisoning, please get medical attention. If you are diagnosed with Salmonella, do not throw away or return the bag of cereal until you contact a Salmonella lawyer. To contact our law firm regarding Salmonella poisoning, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), e-mail our attorneys, or submit our free case consultation form.
Symptoms of Salmonella, which last from 24 hours to 12 days, include headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, rumblings in the bowels, chills, fever, nausea and dehydration. Symptoms usually appear 6 hours to 72 hours after ingestion.
Cereal Recall and Salmonella Agona Cases
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A cereal recall has been linked to Salmonella Agona cases in California, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The cereal, puffed rice and puffed wheat, was recalled by Malt-O-Meal Company on April 5, 2008, and involved the following brands: Malt-O-Meal, Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. Read more information about the Malt-O-Meal recall.
The CDC, FDA and state health departments are investigating the Salmonella Agona outbreak. The investigation includes interviews of persons with Salmonella Agona infections and comparison of the DNA fingerprints suggests that cereal from Malt-O-Meal unsweetened Puffed Rice Cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals is likely related to these illnesses.
The FDA issued a news release today that stated that 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 cereal 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").
Yesterday's CDC information on the Salmonella Agona outbreak linked to the cereal recall stated:
Health departments from 13 states identified 21 ill persons infected with Salmonella Agona with the same genetic fingerprint. Ill persons with the outbreak strain have been reported from California (1), Colorado (1), Delaware (1), Maine (3), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), North Dakota (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (3), New York (3), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), and Vermont (1). Illness onset dates, which are known for 9 patients, ranged from January 22 to March 2, 2008. Their ages range from 1 to 95 years; 62% are female. Three hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.
Investigation of the Salmonella Agona Outbreak Linked to the Malt-O-Meal Cereal Recall
According to the CDC:
Continue ReadingOn April 5, 2008 Malt-O-Meal Company initiated a recall after the company's routine food testing detected the presence of Salmonella on March 24, 2008 in a Minnesota plant that produces and packages dry cereals. Malt-O-Meal issued a recall of unsweetened Puffed Rice Cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced during the past 12 months at the plant in Minnesota. The recall products have "Best If Used By" dates of April 8, 2008 to March 18, 2009.
On April 7, 2008, PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, notified CDC's OutbreakNet Team of a cluster of human Salmonella Agona isolates with an indistinguishable PFGE pattern (outbreak pattern) in multiple states. On April 10, 2008, CDC was informed by several state health departments that patients infected with Salmonella Agona with the outbreak pattern had eaten Malt-O-Meal cereal products. On April 11, the Minnesota State Public Health Department confirmed that the Salmonella isolate isolated from the Minnesota plant was Salmonella Agona and had the same indistinguishable PFGE pattern as the isolates from ill humans. CDC, multiple state health departments, and FDA are working collaboratively to identify additional cases and determine the source and factors that contribute to this outbreak.
Minnesota Salmonella Infection (Salmonellosis) Associated with Recalled Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat Cereal Recalled by Malt-O-Meal
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Minnesota health and agriculture officials are investigating cases of illness in Minnesota that may be linked to puffed rice and puffed wheat cereal involved in a Malt-O-Meal recall. At least 21 cases of Salmonella agona have been identified as associated with the Malt-O-Meal recall involving several brands, including Malt-O-Meal, Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified one laboratory-confirmed case of Salmonella agona in the state that matches the genetic fingerprint of strain of Salmonella found in the cereal that was recalled April 5. 12 other state health departments have identified cases of the outbreak-strain of Salmonella agona.
On April 5, the Malt-O-Meal company issued a recall due to Salmonella contamination of unsweetened Puffed Rice cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced during the past 12 months at its plant in Northfield. The recalled products have “Best If Used By” codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as APR0808) and March 18, 2009 (coded as MAR1809). Malt-O-Meal initiated the recall after its routine food safety testing detected the presence of Salmonella in a product produced on March 24. The recalled cereal was distributed nationally and marketed under the Malt-O-Meal label as well as a variety of private labels, including Malt-O-Meal, Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops, and Weis Quality.
Malt-O-Meal Recall of Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat
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URGENT UPDATE TO MALT-O-MEAL RECALL INVOLVING PUFFED RICE AND PUFFED WHEAT: 13 STATES HAVE REPORTED 21 CASES OF LABORATORY-CONFIRMED SALMONELLA AGONA LINKED TO THE RECALLED CEREAL, SOME OF WHICH HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR SALMONELLA AGONA. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY PEOPLE WHO WERE SICKENED. TO CONTACT US, PLEASE CALL 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL-FREE), E-MAIL LAWYERS AT OUR LAW FIRM, OR SUBMIT OUR LAW FIRM'S FREE CASE CONSULTATION FORM.
Malt-O-Meal has announced a Malt-O-Meal recall of its unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced with “Best If Used By” codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as “APR0808”) and March 18, 2009 (coded as “MAR1809”) because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled product was distributed nationally, marketed under the Malt-O-Meal brand and as some private label brands including Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. If you have any unsweetened Puffed Rice or unsweetened Puffed Wheat cereals, you need to look at the code and see if it is part of this recall (all unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat products with “Best If Used By” codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as “APR0808”) and March 18, 2009 (coded as “MAR1809”)).
The recall was initiated after the company’s internal routine food safety testing detected the presence of Salmonella in a product produced on March 24, 2008. The company immediately commenced an investigation to determine the root cause of this one positive finding as well as the extent of any possible exposure. Initial results from this follow-up investigation indicate that additional product may have been exposed to this contaminant.
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