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IMAGE SOURCE: package of puffed wheat from Malt-O-Meal company web site |
Malt-O-Meal is supposed to be good for you but so far at least 23 are sick from a
discovery of salmonella contamination in the cereal.
The box of Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat has a “best if used by” date of between April 8 and March 18, 2009.
The company is voluntarily pulling two cereals off store shelves.
This recall includes not just the Malt-O-Meal brand but also the same cereal manufactured under private labels such as Acme, America’s Choice, Food club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality.
States affected include Minnesota, California, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Symptoms usually develop from between 12 to 72 hours after exposure and include nausea and vomiting, fever and diarrhea or abdominal cramps. People with a weakened immune system such as the very young or very old can be especially susceptible to the effects of salmonella poisoning.
The company says this recall represents less than one half of one percent of its cereal production.
“Our first and highest priority remains the safety of the consumers who use our products,” said Malt-O-Meal President and CEO Chris Neugent in a statement.
“We very much appreciate that our distributors and retail partners have been quick to implement this recall and that the media has helped us get the word out. We apologize for this situation and promise to do everything to complete the recall as quickly as possible.”
Salmonella contamination usually comes from contact with animal feces. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is conducting an investigation of the plant in Northfield, MN.
If you have one of these products, the company will refund your money and you can throw it away or go back to the store for a refund. #