Veggie Booty Off Limits!
Veggie Booty, an otherwise healthly snack made from puffed rice and corn with a vegetable coating, has been recalled after reports of salmonella poisoning.
Findings indicate the presence of a strain of salmonella known as Salmonellawandsworth, which can create severe gastrointestinal problems requiring hospitalization. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Reports of illness have come in from 17 states. According the FDA, the salmonella outbreak should be considered ongoing, so reports from other states are probable.
Distributed by Robert's American Gourmet Food Inc. out of Sea Cliff, New York, Veggie Booty is sold nationwide and in Canada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agency in Atlanta (CDCP) was notified of illness stemming from the consumption of tainted Veggie Booty product in March of this year, and following extensive investigation notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 27th.
Robert's American Gourmet has so far cooperated fully with the investigation, recalling all packages of Veggie Booty, encompassing all expiration dates and all product lots. The snack food is sold in a flexible plastic foil bag in sizes ranging from one-half ounce, to one-ounce and 4-ounce pouches. As a precaution, another Robert’s snack, Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks, also is being recalled even those no similar problems have been reported.
The FDA acted after receiving more than 50 reports of salmonella poisoning, mostly involving children. Four of those children were hospitalized, and many report eating Veggie Booty prior to becoming sick. The product is a blend of spinach, kale, cabbage, carrots and broccoli.Of course, you still can eat the real thing --- spinach, kale, cabbage, carrots and broccoli are great for your health. For now, however, Veggie Booty "the snack" is off limits.
How can such a product become contaminated? More on this later.