There’s a multistate salmonella outbreak linked to Garden of Life RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Utah is affected.
Eleven people have been sick with salmonella and one person was hospitalized. No one has died. Illness was reported in Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Salmonellosis is one of the most prevalent food borne illnesses and is considered a major threat to public health.
It’s estimated there are 1.2 million illnesses every year in the United States due to nontyphoidal salmonella.
People who get sick with salmonella often get diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.
Typically, symptoms last four to seven days and most people recover from the illness.
However, people with underlying medical conditions, the elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to the more severe symptoms and even death.
About 450 Americans die a year after getting sick with salmonella.
On January 29, the company voluntarily recalled some of its RAW Meal products that were available in chocolate, vanilla, vanilla chai and original flavor, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
If you have one of these products on your shelf and you are not sure if it is related to the recall, check the CDC website for the lot number.
These shake and meal items are sold in single serving and full size. The CDC said that some stores and online sites are still selling them.
If you do have one of these canisters, throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it. If you choose to throw it away, the CDC recommended sealing it in a plastic bag and putting it in a closed trash can so that animals don’t eat it and become ill.
If you’ve got other questions about the product, Garden of Life set up a phone line: 1-866-465-0051.
