Malt-O-Meal to Recall Nationally Distributed Cereals

Malt-O-Meal has issued a recall on their unsweetened Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice Cereals voluntarily on April 5th, 2008. The cereals with the use by dates of April 8th, 2008( usage code of "APR0808") and March 18th, 2009(usage code of "MAR1809") are said to have Salmonella contamination. This is the same bacteria which causes most of the world's food poisoning, approximately 4 million reports each year in the United States alone. Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria which number about 2,000 that cause sickness by multiplying in the digestive system. It is present wherever animals live and has the ability to resist heat, cold, rain, and drought. Processed feed and affected soil eaten by animals leads this bacteria to be shed in the feces of these animals. Salmonella can contaminate the bodies of animals during slaughtering, this is why it is usually found in meat, fish, and egg products. Fruits and vegetables have even been found to contain Salmonella in recent years and the source has never been identified. Contamination from people occurs happens when the carrier fails to properly wash their hands of feces traces and either direct contact with another occurs or they handle food afterward. Most often when a person is treated with penicclin and tetracyclin, the bacteria is resistent because farmers use these same drugs to prevent the infection of animals from Salmonella.

The cereal distributor says that all other products sold under the Malt-O-Meal and private label brands are safe for consumption. Their internal testing of the goods for safety found the presence of the bacteria in March, 2008. Presently, at least 23 people in about 14 states have been found to have Salmonella poisoning as a result of eating the cereals. Consumers who have the contaminated cereal should send the product back to the company for a full refund. Questions may be directed to the company by calling 1-877-665-9331 or to find out which brands are included in the recall, you may visit www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo .

The symptoms of infection are flu-like including fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. It can cause other sicknesses and even death. If you are concerned about preventing Salmonella poisoning, there are some preventative measures you can take to protect yourself and others. Washing hands and any surfaces that have come in contact with raw meat products thorougly in hot soapy water. Always make sure that hands are clean after bathroom visits and before and after handling food. Check that food is cooked to a temperature above 140 degrees and storing unused food immediately, do not leave food sitting out. Always defrost food in a microwave or refrigerator in an ideal temperature colder than 40 degrees. Being clean and safe goes a long way in preventing Salmonella contamination. Remember that fruits and vegetables can become infected if the come into contact with other meats or surfaces where the raw meats touched. Using cleaning products with bleach(usually one ounce per gallon of water) to disinfect surfaces, cutting boards, and utensils is very effective on the bacteria.