The first - and I doubt the last - lawsuit has been filed in the tainted peanut butter scandal.
A
mother from Vermont says her seven-year-old son had to be hospitalized
from salmonella poisoning after eating Keebler's sandwich crackers,
which were filled with a peanut butter spread. Seven weeks later, she
says the boy is still recovering.
The makers of the Keelber crackers, Kellogg's, have voluntarily
recalled products containing peanut butter that may or may not be
tainted, but based on the dates in Gabrielle Meunier's affidavit, young
Christopher ate his snacks several weeks before news broke on the
possible outbreak and recall.
Like the spinach and tomato scare of 2008, this one has hit home -
these are foods my family eats on a relatively regular basis (more so
the veggies than the crackers, but peanut butter is a staple in our
house). I went rifling through our cabinets when I heard the news and
came up with nothing, but who knows what she already powered through
(like Amy's kids and those Clif bars).
So what should parents be watching out for? According to the CDC, "most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea,
fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness
usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment."
Lest you think this is a simple few days of noxious diarrhea, Christopher Meunier is recovering, but not every kid is so lucky.
Kids are actually the most likely candidates for salmonellosis
(salmonella poisoning). The rate of infections in kids under five is
five times higher than the rate of infection in any other age group,
and children, the elderly and immunocompromised are the most likely to
have severe reactions. The CDC estimates that approximately 400 persons
die each
year with acute salmonellosis.
So, now that I gave you your mega scare for the day, how about a jelly and cream cheese sandwich?
Image: Costco
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