Quaker Oats Recalls Products Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Quaker Oats, the company known for its numerous snack products, is facing potential Salmonella contamination in its items. In December of 2023, 43 items, including cereals and granola bars, were recalled from public use because of this concern. Since then, 24 items have been added to the recall order. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.), there have been no confirmed reports of Salmonella infection in Quaker Oats products, but it’s possible that there have been unreported cases of the disease.  

Salmonella is a bacteria that, upon infection, causes symptoms like fevers, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea. While most Salmonella infections are relatively mild and resolve between four and seven days, the disease can cause serious complications in young children, the elderly, and patients who are immunocompromised. Some of these more serious complications can arise if the bacteria enters the bloodstream, leading to a life-threatening condition called sepsis. According to the Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) Salmonella infection causes about 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths each year in the United States because of these complications. In November of 2023, the C.D.C. reported two deaths from Salmonella in cantaloupes. Other fruits, vegetables, and meat products have also been the subject of recent Salmonella outbreaks. In total, the C.D.C. estimates that the Salmonella bacteria infects about 1.35 million Americans annually. 

With these complications in mind, the F.D.A. is advising that consumers throw away all Quaker Oats products. A full list of recalled products is listed on the Quaker Oats website, where customers can also request reimbursement for disposed items. 

It is essential that Americans report suspected Salmonella infections due to these products, and more broadly, in any case of potential contamination. As symptom onset can occur any time between six hours and six days after consuming a contaminated food, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of a Salmonella infection. As such, reporting cases becomes important, because the more data that is collected, the easier it will be to identify a trend and ultimately determine the source of the contamination.

To read the full article from Rebecca Carballo of The New York Times, click here.