Honey Smacks gone from local stores, but federal officials say you should throw it out if it’s at home

Federal health officials say you should not eat Honey Smacks cereal, even though the salmonella outbreak linked to the cereal hasn’t hit Kansas yet.

So far, 36 states have reported salmonella cases, including Colorado and Oklahoma with two cases each. At this time, 130 cases have been reported nationwide.

Kellogg’s recalled Honey Smacks in June and the cereal was pulled from local stores this summer, but the cereal still may be on store shelves in certain locations nationwide. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are telling people not to eat Honey Smacks or to buy the cereal if is available for sale. If you still have Honey Smacks at home, throw it out — even if some of it has been eaten and nobody got sick. If you have a look-alike cereal, throw it out as well.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12-72 hours after exposure. No deaths have been reported, but salmonella infections can kill people. The young, frail and elderly are most at risk.