July 6, 2009

Wash, DC-- Malt-O-Meal Company is voluntarily recalling “Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal” and “Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal” packets sold in “Variety” cartons, with carton date codes between June 30, 2009 and October 28, 2010 because it contains instant non-fat dry milk manufactured by the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative. Plainview has recently commenced a recall of instant non-fat dry milk and other ingredients that have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The product affected by this recall includes single-serve packets of “Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal” and “Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal” packets sold in “Variety” cartons distributed nationally under a variety of brands in cartons of 6 to 15 packets. Brands include Cub Foods, Diamond Crystal, Fastco, Flavorite, Foodland, Good ‘n Hearty, Hearty Traditions, Hy-Top, IGA, Mom’s Best Natural, Megaroons, Millville, Our Family, Richfood, Shop ‘n Save and Smart Menu.

Consumers should look on the product cartons for carton date codes that are between June 30, 2009 (which would be printed as “JUN3009”) and October 28, 2010 (which would be printed as “OCT2810”). These dates are usually printed as the first seven characters of a 15-character string.

To view other items recalled because they contain the nonfat dry milk manufactured by Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm170464.htm.