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Pepperidge Farm Recalls 3.3M Packages of Goldfish Over Salmonella Scare

By Lisa M. Schaffer, Esq. on July 26, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

In yet another salmonella outbreak, Pepperidge Farms has voluntarily recalled 3.3 million packages of Goldfish Crackers due to potentially contaminated whey product. All salmon and goldfish jokes aside ...

What Happened?

A supplier notified the company that one of the seasoning products containing whey may carry the bacteria, which is used in four types of Goldfish: Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar, and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel.

Out of an abundance of caution, Pepperidge Farm released a chart that clearly states all sell-by dates and package codes for all of the potentially affected products. There are a total of 18 variations in product sizes with varying sell-by dates. If you have any of these bags of goldfish, throw them out or bring them to your local store for a refund.

What's With All the Salmonella?

This comes on the heels of an outbreak involving Kellogg's Sugar Smacks cereal. Earlier this month, Kellogg recalled 1.3 million boxes of their cereal after over 100 people became ill with salmonella poisoning. Researchers are still trying to get to the bottom of that epidemic, but it is quite possibly related to whey powder as well.

There have been eight salmonella outbreaks already this year, which is historically the average amount in a total year. According to CDC statistics, this is looking to be the worst year for salmonella in the past 12 years. However, the CDC still doesn't know why. There are over 100 different types of salmonella, therefore outbreaks are not uncommon, with over 1.2 million people infected, and 450 deaths in the United States every year. Salmonella bacteria are linked to fecal contamination, and can survive in dry conditions for a very long time, making it difficult to sterilize contaminated food equipment.

Will I Know If I'm Infected?

You will most certainly know if you are infected with salmonella. Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps appear 12 to 72 hours after a person is infected. These symptoms last four to seven days. Most people get better with home care, but hospitalization and IV fluids may be necessary if dehydration sets in. The elderly, babies, and people who have impaired immune systems are the most likely to need hospitalization.

If you or someone you love has been affected by a recent salmonella outbreak, contact a local products liability lawyer to decide if you have a claim, and if so, how best to move forward.

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