Salmonella Outbreak in Veggie Booty Snack Food Effects 17 States, Mostly Toddlers

Robert's American Gourmet has voluntarily recalled its Veggie Booty snack product and halted production after the Food and Drug Administration contacted them regarding a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 27, 2007.

Up to 52 cases of Salmonella Wandsworth have been reported nationally since June 28, 2007. The Oregon Department of Human Services reported that Oregon is one of 17 states reporting an outbreak of Salmonella linking to the Veggie Booty contamination. According to the FDA, the outbreak is considering ongoing.

Current states included in the outbreak are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The outbreak has effected mostly young children, toddlers and infants aged 10 and younger, since March 2007.

Production and distribution of all sizes and varieties of Veggie Booty has come to a stop, pending the results of FDA testing. As of June 28, 2007, there are no confirmed positive results of Salmonella. The recall is merely a voluntary precautionary measure on behalf of Robert's American Gourmet until results are determined.

Salmonella Wandsworth is a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illnesses including fever, vomiting and diarrhea. It can take 1 to 5 days for symptoms to appear. If symptoms include blood in the diarrhea or vomit, victims should contact their physician immediately. Salmonella can get into the blood stream, causing serious infections.

Veggie Booty is a vegan baked vegetable snack made from spinach, kale, cabbage, carrots and broccoli. The snack is popular among parent's of small children, as a way to incorporate vegetables into their toddler's diet.

The FDA is asking anyone with Veggie Booty snacks in their home to discard the product immediately. If you'd like a refund or have questions concerning the product you may contact Robert's American Gourmet toll free at 1-800-626-7557.