Another Honey Smacks Warning: Salmonella Case Reported In IL

ILLINOIS — A clearly exasperated worker for the US Food and Drug Administration wrote on Twitter Tuesday, "Seriously, get rid of Kellogg's #HoneySmacks in the cabinets!" The Tweet comes more than 2-1/2 months after the cereal was voluntarily recalled by Kellogg's.

When the recall was issued, more than 70 people in the U.S. had been stricken with salmonella. That number has nearly doubled to 130 confirmed infections in 34 states.

Here in Illinois, the number of salmonella cases linked to the cereal remains at 1, where it was when the recall was issued in June, but officials are still warning cereal-lovers to toss the smacks.

Click here to see the map of states included in the outbreak and the number of cases in each state.

If you have the recalled cereal you are advised to throw it away or return it to the store for a refund.

Related: Do Not Eat Honey Smacks: Salmonella Outbreak In IL, Nationwide

The recall includes 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.

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.

This story was written by Patch reporter Bea Karnes

Image via FDA