Kellogg’s Halts Sales of Popular Keebler and Austin Brand Peanut Butter Crackers as a Precautionary Measure

Cereal giant Kellogg’s has pulled its popular Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers, as health officials reported two more deaths in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that is linked to peanut butter. That’s scary because as a parent, I have given my kids those very same snacks to eat. The crackers are Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers.

Kellogg said it that hadn’t received any complaints or discovered any problems with the crackers, but took the action as a “precautionary measure” after one of its peanut paste suppliers, Peanut Corp. of America, announced a nationwide recall of peanut butter made in a Georgia plant. The company is being proactive by removing the product from retail store shelves and encouraging customers and consumers to hold and not eat these products until regulatory officials complete their investigation of PCA. One life lost due to salmonella food poisoning is one life too many.

Health officials in Minnesota and Idaho said that one death in each state had been linked to the outbreak, which has now sickened at least 430 people in 43 states. Another death in Minnesota and two in Virginia were confirmed Tuesday. Although their causes of death haven’t been determined, all five adults had salmonella infection when they died. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the salmonella outbreak may have contributed to their deaths, the news service said.

Peanut Corp. of America issued a recall Tuesday of 21 lots of peanut butter for possible salmonella contamination. The product was made at a plant in Blakely, Ga., on or after July 1, 2008, and sold under the brand name Parnell’s Pride and by the King Nut Company as King Nut.

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Filed under: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Deaths, Keebler and Austin Crackers, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Peanut Corp. of America, Salmonella

Michael Phelps Slammed by Health Experts for Frosted Flakes Deal

Swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps will appear on boxes of the Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. Is that really the breakfast of champions? An Olympic champion, no less? The deal has drawn sharp criticism from health experts worried about the message he will be sending to children across the United States.

According to the NY Daily News, nutritionist Rebecca Solomon of Mount Sinai Medical Center said that “I would rather see him promoting Fiber One. I would rather see him promoting oatmeal. I would even rather see him promoting Cheerios.” Okay, Cheerios, yes, Fiber One, I can’t touch that!

The announcement yesterday that Phelps, 23, winner of a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, would grace Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes boxes instead of the traditional athlete’s choice of Wheaties left many perplexed. Frosted Flakes has three times the amount of sugar as Wheaties and 1/3rd the fiber. I steer clear of sugary cereals for my kids. It is bad for them on so many levels.

I suppose it is no big deal because guy consumes 12,000 calories a day, so he can eat anything and maybe, just maybe, he likes Frosted Flakes. However, the message is murky. Childhood obesity is an alarming issue and his iconic image sharing space with Tony the Tiger, just sends the wrong message to kids everywhere, in my opinion.

Look for the Phelps-emblazoned cereal boxes to hit supermarket shelves in mid-September. I forgot to mention that parents play a great role in what their children eat and how active they are. Michael Phelps is not the problem. The solution to obesity in children starts in the home!

Filed under: Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Michael Phelps