What began as a small investigation into tainted milkshake powder has become a nationwide recall of related products.
No illnesses have been linked to the contamination of ingredients sold by a Minnesota milk cooperative, says the Food and Drug Administration's Stephanie Kwisnek. But the recalls, which are cascading through the food system and are expected to expand, illustrate the interconnectedness of the system, in which just one tainted ingredient can affect dozens of companies.
Recalled products range from Malt-O-Meal's Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal packets to Meijer hot chocolate mix to some Kroger popcorn toppings.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture first detected salmonella in a milkshake powder in June. The USDA and the FDA traced the contamination back to the Plainview (Minn.) Milk Products Cooperative.
FDA investigators found salmonella in the plant, and the cooperative issued a voluntarily recall of instant non-fat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers and thickening agents produced over the past two years.
The cooperative sells only to food manufacturers and distributors.
Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal is the most recent company to announce a recall linked to Plainview products. The maple-and-brown-sugar oatmeal packets, sold under a variety of brands, make up only 1% of Malt-O-Meal's production, spokesman Jon Austin says.
Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
*For a list of recalled products, visit www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Milk
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