Salmonella has been in the news quite a bit lately, as bacteria found in food products that can make people very ill. Those who become sick from consuming food contaminated with salmonella develop an illness called salmonellosis. There are several different strains of salmonella. The most recent salmonella outbreak involving Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal resulted from a strain of bacteria called Salmonella Mbandaka.
Public health investigators work to identify the strain of salmonella associated with an outbreak so they can determine if multiple illnesses are related to one specific source. In the case of the Honey Smacks contamination, 73 people have become ill across 31 states. Those illnesses have all been traced back to Salmonella Mbandaka.
The strain has a history among food poisoning cases. In April 2013, Krinos Foods, LLC of Long Island City, New York recalled its tahini sesame paste because of potential salmonella poisoning. That outbreak was also traced back to the Salmonella Mbandaka strain.
Salmonella can also contaminate pet food products. In February 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided Kasel Associates Industries, Inc. with an “opportunity” to voluntarily recall its pet food products after investigators discovered the Salmonella Mbandaka strain of bacteria had contaminated its production facility the previous year. In the 1990s, Salmonella Mbandaka was found to occur in feed and poultry in Poland. Humans can become very ill after handling contaminated pet food.
The recent Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak affects all consumers who have purchased or eaten Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Salmonella Mbandaka can make you very sick and, in fact, has hospitalized 24 people who have eaten the contaminated Honey Smacks.
To learn more about Salmonella Mbandaka and about your legal options if you are a victim of the outbreak, please contact the food poisoning lawyers at 1-888-335-4901.
