Lucky Charms Outbreak?

They’re magically delicious, and they’re giving people diarrhea. Not a great combination. Unfortunately, for the past few months, people have been reporting feeling ill after eating one of America’s favorite cereals, Lucky Charms. As many as 2400 illnesses related to the cereal have been reported to consumer reporting websites since late last year. The cause of the illnesses is not yet known, but the FDA and General Mills are looking into the reports. Could there be a Lucky Charms Outbreak in our midst?

Diarrhea is a common problem associated with loose, watery stools and is often accompanied by other symptoms such as; nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss.  Most of the time, the illness is not severe and will resolve within a few days. However, when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days into weeks, it usually indicates another problem: persistent infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or a more serious disorder. Persistent diarrhea can lead to other potentially serious issues such as dehydration, especially in young children. You should contact your doctor if you or a loved one experience symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea persisting beyond two days with no improvement
• Dehydration
• Severe abdominal or rectal pain
• Bloody or black stools
• Fever above 102 F (39 C)

Both General Mills and the FDA have launched investigations into these reports of diarrhea linked to Lucky Charms. As of yet, no official recalls have been issued by either entity. In an email to Insider.com, Andrea Williamson, General Mills spokesperson, wrote, “Food safety is our top priority. We take the consumer concerns reported via a third-party website very seriously; after a thorough internal investigation, we have not found any evidence that these complaints are attributed to our products. We encourage consumers to please share any concerns directly with General Mills to ensure they can be appropriately addressed.”  Accurate reporting of food-related illnesses ensures that these issues are adequately addressed. If you or a loved one experiences a food-related illness, you can report the issue directly to the FDA’s CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS).

As of April 12, 2022, the website Iwaspoisoned.com has had over 2400 consumer reports of diarrhea linked to Lucky Charms. In a statement on their website, Iwaspoisoned.com said, “We recommend anyone who fell ill after eating Lucky Charms, to report it, and to keep leftover product for testing. We will communicate procedures for testing to everyone who reports their case.”

What does the FDA have to say about all of this?

In a statement to Fox 8 News, FDA officials said, “The FDA is aware of reports and is looking into the matter. The FDA takes seriously any reports of possible adulteration of a food that may also cause illnesses or injury.” And, “Since 2004, the FDA’s CAERS data has received 41 reports related to Lucky Charms. However, only 3 Adverse Event Reports in 2021 with only 1 of those reports appearing to be related to the complaints listed on IWasPoisoned.com. Furthermore, the agency has received no calls at the FDA’s Food and Cosmetic Information Center related to Lucky Charms.” If you or a loved one have experienced diarrhea linked to lucky charms, you are encouraged to report it.

Consumers from New Jersey to California and just about everywhere in between are reporting adverse effects related to consuming Lucky Charms cereal. Most reports are of diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. A man from Oklahoma reported stomach cramps that were so severe that he had to call off work. Some other symptoms are being reported as well. Along with the pain and diarrhea, they’re also reporting colorful stools. Apparently, the cereal doesn’t just turn your milk green. One consumer from Michigan reported shortness of breath after having a bowl of the cereal as a late-night snack and had to be rushed to the hospital. While no definitive evidence may have yet been found linking these illnesses to Lucky Charms, it’s pretty clear that there’s a trend here. Two thousand four hundred people can’t all be wrong.

Each year, 1 in 6 Americans will get food poisoning. When you add up the numbers, that is 48 million illnesses each year. Of these illnesses, about 128,000 of these people will be hospitalized. About 3,000 Americans will die. Food can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses due to cross-contamination, through sick food workers, the lack of handwashing, the lack of proper heating and cooking, and unsanitary food preparation or farming methods. Pathogens are not the only things that can make our food supply unsafe. Harmful chemicals and toxins also account for some of the sources that food has become unsafe in the United States. Undeclared allergens account for a large number of illnesses per year as well. Undeclared allergen illnesses alone account for more than 30% of illness reports to the Food and Drug Administration each year.

If you or someone you know has already fallen ill with diarrhea linked to Lucky Charms, hold on to any leftover product and packaging for traceback purposes and seek medical attention. A Food Safety lawyer can help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the harm caused by your illness.

How The Lange Law Firm Can Help

Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water.  When corporations cause food-related illnesses, we use the law to hold them accountable.  The Lange Law Firm is the only law firm solely focused on helping families in food poisoning lawsuits and contaminated water lawsuits.

If you or a loved one got food poisoning and are interested in making a claim for legal compensation, we can help.  Our food safety lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your illness. Call us for a free no-obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.

By: Michelle Galadik