Veggie Booty Snacks Recalled for Salmonella Contamination
Posted by
Chrissie ColeJune 30, 2007 5:32 PMThe FDA is advising consumers to discard any Veggie Booty Snacks, marketed by Robert's American Gourmet, due to possible contamination of Salmonella Wandsworth, a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal illness.
Parents who are aware that their children have eaten Veggie Booty Snacks should watch for symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if signs of illness appear.
Anyone who has eaten Veggie Booty Snacks and indeed experienced any of the symptoms outlined below should contact their doctor right away. Any person with a recent history of eating Veggie Booty and becoming ill should be reported to state or local health authorities.
The warning is based on 52 received reports of illness across 17 states, beginning back in March. Most of the illnesses have appeared in children under ten years of age, most commonly in toddlers. Most persons report having bloody diarrhea; four were hospitalized. The FDA learned of the illness on June 27 from the Center for Disease Control and prevention who was conducting an investigation with state and local health officials.
Typically, Salmonella poisoning causes diarrhea (often times bloody); abdominal cramps and fever often accompany diarrhea. Symptoms can begin as soon as a day to four days after exposure to the bacteria. In infants or persons with underlying health issues with weakened immune systems, Salmonella can create a life-threatening infection.
Robert's American Gourmet, of Sea Cliff, N.Y., which markets Veggie Booty, and its contract manufacturer, are fully cooperating with FDA's investigation into the cause of the contamination. Manufacturing and distribution of this product has ceased, and Robert's American Gourmet is recalling all potentially contaminated product, including all expiration dates and lot codes. The product is sold in all 50 states and Canada at retail locations and over the Internet.
States reporting illnesses include: California (seven cases), Colorado (five cases), Connecticut (one case), Georgia (one case), Indiana (one case), Massachusetts (three cases), Minnesota (two cases), New Hampshire (two cases), New Jersey (two cases), New York (13 cases), Oregon (one case), Pennsylvania (three cases), Tennessee (one), Texas (one), Vermont (three cases), Washington (four cases), and Wisconsin (two cases).
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.