Officials identify source of salmonella contamination

Health officials have identified the source of the salmonella contamination that led to the recall of Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal cereals earlier this month.

The contamination apparently occurred during the processing of the cereals. A company spokesman said the equipment is now off-line.

The unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals were found contaminated during routine testing and were recalled on April 5th.

The affected packages were produced during the past 12 months in Northfield, Minnesota.

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Jon Austin, spokesman for Malt-O-Meal, said the company immediately recalled the cereal over concern for public health.

"It's a voluntary precautionary recall, but we hope everybody gets the word and acts on it, because we want to make that everything they eat is obviously wholesome and as good as it can be"

The state Health Department said a Minnesota case of salmonella involves the same strain of salmonella found in more than two dozen other cases in 13 states.

The investigation is ongoing.