Neither Quaker Oats nor the Food and Drug Administration immediately responded to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
In a recall announcement posted on the FDA’s website, but not vetted by the agency, the company said that it doesn’t know of any confirmed reports of illness caused by the products being recalled.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people affected by a salmonella infection usually start to experience symptoms between six hours and six days after coming into contact with the bacteria. Those symptoms, which can include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, most often clear up without antibiotics after four to seven days.
For most cases, the CDC recommends that people with salmonella infections drink extra fluids for as long as they’re experiencing diarrhea. But more severe cases may require hospitalization and antibiotic treatments. Children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 65, as well as people with weakened immune systems due to medical conditions such as diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and cancer, are at elevated risk for severe infections, according to the CDC.
In its recall announcement, Quaker Oats warns that in rare cases, salmonella infections can get into the bloodstream and cause more severe illnesses like infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.
The company advises customers who think they might have the products to compare the expiration dates on the products they have with the list of products being recalled. Customers can contact the company for more information about the contaminated products as well as how to get reimbursed.
