BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg Co. said today it is recalling some Keebler Cookies and Special K Meal Bars and expanding some previous product recalls amid the growing scope of a national salmonella outbreak linked to a Georgia peanut butter plant.
The Keebler cookies included in the voluntary recall include Soft Batch Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in 2.5-ounce packages, with a “Best If Used Before” date before June 30. The cookies have UPC codes 3010032708 and 3010037899.
The Special K Protein Meal Bar recall includes only the Honey Almond flavor in 6-count and 8-count packages with a “Best If Used Before” date before Feb. 1, 2010. The bars have UPC codes 3800039778, 3800039935 and 3800039931.
No other Special K products are part of this recall. No illnesses have been reported.
The cookies and bars do not contain any peanut ingredients from Peanut Corp. — the company at the center of the investigation. But they were produced at another company’s facility on the same line as products that were made for other companies using potentially contaminated Peanut Corp. ingredients.
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it has asked the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation into Peanut Corp.
As a result of the expanded recall, Kellogg is now recalling more Austin and Keebler Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies to include all code dates.
Retailers had previously been advised to remove all of these products from store shelves, regardless of code date, so the vast majority of these recalled products are no longer in stores, Kellogg said. But the company urged consumers to destroy any of these products they have in their homes.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
At least 529 people have been sickened as a result of the current outbreak, and at least eight may have died as a result. More than 430 products have been recalled.
Kellogg shares rose 46 cents to close today at $44.15.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
