As of June 25, Kellogg Co. is voluntarily recalling about 28 million boxes of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks cereal because of a "waxy” smell and flavor coming from the package liners that has made people sick with nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Kellogg’s revealed that the waxy smell and flavor coming from the cereal is actually a petroleum-based compound found on the lining of the packaging. This compound, methylnaphthalene, has been the subject of on-going government and oil industry testing and information-gathering initiatives to identify potential safety issues. The petroleum-based compound is produced in large quantities in the United States, and health agencies know very little about its safety.
In a posting on its website, Kellogg’s said "…do not eat any more of this product since it doesn't meet our quality standards" and that a subsequent health risk assessment showed that “sensitive” customers could expect reactions. The website also offered customers a number to call with questions and an offer of a "replacement coupon."
The discovery of contaminated cereal packaging raises serious questions about FDA’s ability to thoroughly investigate and regulate all chemicals that make their way from cardboard boxes, plastic bags, metal cans and coated papers into our breakfast foods.
Besides methylnaphthalene, the food coloring found in these sugary cereals are also harmful to your children.
