All lots and sizes of “Veggie Booty” Snack Food are being recalled following a report of as many as 55 cases of Salmonella poisoning associated with consuming the product.  It is Salmonella Wandsworth – very rare serotype – March 1 – June 11 onsets.  “Veggie Booty” Snack Food is sold in supermarkets, health food stores, and vending machines and online in the United States and Canada. It is sold in flexible plastic foil bags in 4 ounce, 1 ounce and half-ounce portions.  We bought some today at about 1:00 PM Seattle time.  See Recall Notices – Company’s and FDA’s.  Veggie Booty contains a blend of Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Carrots and Broccoli.  I called my kids at home today and found out that we had some of it in the pantry.  So, it looks like we have some evidence to test.

Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is the second most common form of bacterial foodborne illness. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are foodborne-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year.

The acute symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include the sudden onset of nausea, abdominal cramping, and bloody diarrhea with mucous. Fever is almost always present. Vomiting is less common than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well. The onset of symptoms usually occurs within 6 to 72 hours after the ingestion of the bacteria. The infectious dose is small, probably from 15 to 20 cells.  Generally, illnesses last five to seven days, although severe complications may occur.

As the managing partner of Seattle-based, Marler Clark, I have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella poisonings in the last fifteen years.  Outbreaks have included cases against Chili’s, ConAgra, Golden Corral, KFC, Malt-O-Meal, Sheetz, Sun Orchard, Wal-Mart and Western Sizzlin.’

I found this on the “Veggie Booty” website interesting:

Veggie Booty is a delicious snack that you and your family will love

Veggie Booty is made from the finest ingredients

Veggie Booty will change the way you eat, while enjoying the finest
snack on the planet

Veggie Booty puts you in the mindset to eat healthier and change your
life. Take it on a train or in your car, one a walk or in a boat

Veggie Booty will be your good friend

This is a life-changing snack that will help you eat healthier

Mary Elizabeth Williams wrote for Salon.com two years ago an article entitled – “Bootylicious”

My kids’ favorite snack smells funkier than poop, has questionable nutritional value and leaves a trail of bright green powder in its wake. Still, I can’t imagine life without it.  Veggie Booty is basically crack for babies. Which is exactly why parents buy it.

According to various press and government sources:

Four Washington kids sickened in salmonella outbreak

The state Health Department says four children have been sickened by a rare type of salmonella blamed for outbreaks in 17 states.  State health officials believe the four Washington cases of salmonella poisoning are linked to contaminated snacks called “Veggie Booty,” which are under a national recall.  The four sick children in Washington are younger than 5. Two cases are in Whatcom County, while King County and Spokane County each report one case. All four kids have recovered.  Officials say more than 50 people nationwide, mostly young children, have been sickened in the salmonella outbreak. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever and vomiting.

A Santa Barbara County toddler is recovering Thursday night from salmonella caused by a popular snack

The Santa Barbara County of Public Health confirmed his illness is linked to “Veggie Booty” made of puffed rice and corn. The company that produces it has recalled the snack. Health officials said luckily, the toddler was not hospitalized and has fully recovered.

Two Minnesota kids infected with salmonella

Veggie Booty has been linked to the infection of a six-month-old boy and an 11-month-old girl in Minnesota.  Two young children in Minnesota are among 52 people nationally infected by a rare type of salmonella poisoning linked to the snack food Veggie Booty, made by Robert’s American Gourmet, a New York-based company. Both unidentified children, a six-month-old boy and an 11-month-old girl, are from the Twin Cities area. The boy has recovered, and the girl is recovering, said officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Deschutes County Oregon child sickened by “Veggie Booty”

This “healthy snack” food is linked to at least 52 cases of salmonella infection in 17 states, mostly children under the age of 3. The Deschutes County case – apparently the only one confirmed in Oregon – “came through about three weeks ago,” said Patty Thomas, the county’s communicable disease coordinator. The child’s gender and location was not further identified.

Colorado Salmonella Cases May Be Linked To Recall

Five cases of salmonella in Colorado may be linked to a snack food that has been recalled nationwide, health officials said Friday.

Vermont salmonella cases may be linked to recalled food

The Vermont Health Department is warning people not to eat Veggie Booty snack food, which has been linked to three cases of salmonella poisoning in Vermont.

New York Veggie Booty linked to illnesses affecting two in region, 53 nationwide recall

Two young siblings from Albany County suffered salmonella poisoning after eating Veggie Booty, a puffed corn snack popular with kids. Veggie Booty was removed from store shelves Friday after 53 cases of salmonella poisoning were reported in 17 states. New York, with 14 reported poisonings, had the most cases. None have been fatal. Of the other New York cases, eight occurred in New York City, two in Suffolk County, one in Nassau County and one in Westchester County, according to Claudia Hutton, spokeswoman for the state Health Department.

NATIONAL SALMONELLA OUTBREAK HAS CASE IN INDIANA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced a Salmonella Wandsworth outbreak in 17 states in connection with Veggie Booty snack food. State health officials report one case in Indiana.

FDA warns against ‘Veggie Booty’ snacks; illness reported in Texas

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against eating Veggie Booty children’s snack food, marketed by Robert’s American Gourmet of Sea Cliff, N.Y., after people in 17 states
including Texas became sick after eating it.

Three Pa. tots among those sickened by tainted Veggie Booty

State health department officials say three Pennsylvania tots are among more than 50 sickened nationwide by salmonella bacteria in Veggie Booty snacks. The Pennsylvania tots have all recovered. All were two years old or younger and one child had to be hospitalized. State health officials told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the sickened children live in Westmoreland, Crawford and Chester counties.

Salmonella poisoning cases include local child

A metro Atlanta child is among 57 people sickened in an 18-state outbreak of a rare form of salmonella poisoning, state and federal health officials said Thursday.  The child has recovered from the food-borne illness that can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and, in more severe cases, even death, said Belen Moran, spokeswoman for the Georgia Division of Public Health.