Officials looking into reports of illnesses possibly connected with Lucky Charms - Food Safety News

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports of illnesses possibly linked to Lucky Charms cereal, but little information is available yet.

Hundreds of consumers have reported illnesses after eating the General Mills breakfast cereal according to the iwaspoisoned.com website operator Patrick Quade. The reports include gastrointestinal symptoms. Quade said he has contracts with public health agencies in 49 states, and this past fall was given an FDA contract, to provide information to help with detecting foodborne illnesses and outbreaks.

As of April 6, the FDA reported the following to Food Safety News:

"The FDA is aware of reports and is looking into the matter. The FDA takes seriously any reports of possible adulteration of a food that may also cause illnesses or injury. Depending on the seriousness of the problem, an FDA investigator may visit the person who made the complaint, collect product samples, and initiate inspections. Complaints of a less serious nature or those that appear to be isolated incidents are monitored and the information may be used during a future inspection of a company to help the FDA identify problem areas in a production plant. The complaints are also discussed with company management during these inspections."

An FDA spokesperson said the agency hasn't received any calls at its Food and Cosmetic Information Center related to Lucky Charms cereal. Anyone who becomes sick or has a child who becomes ill after eating the cereal is urged to report the illness via the FDA's reporting page.

Consumers are also urged to visit their health care providers if they become ill after eating the cereal and tell their doctors about possible foodborne connections.

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