State health and agriculture officials are investigating whether there are any cases of illness in Minnesota that may be linked to recalled cereal from the Malt-O-Meal company after at least 21 cases of Salmonella agona have been identified in at least 13 states.

The Minnesota Department of Health has identified one case of Salmonella agona in the state that matches the genetic fingerprint of the other states’ cases and the strain of Salmonella found in the cereal that was recalled April 5.

On April 5, the Malt-O-Meal company issued a recall due to Salmonella contamination of unsweetened Puffed Rice cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced during the past 12 months at its plant in Northfield. The recalled products have “Best If Used By” codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as APR0808) and March 18, 2009 (coded as MAR1809). Malt-O-Meal initiated the recall after its routine food safety testing detected the presence of Salmonella in a product produced on March 24. The recalled cereal was distributed nationally and marketed under the Malt-O-Meal label as well as a variety of private labels. A company Web site, http://www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo/ lists all of the products involved in the recall and tells consumers what to do with the product if they have it.

Following the April 5 recall, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration investigators visited the Northfield facility to determine the extent of the situation. “The Malt-O-Meal company has been extremely cooperative in this investigation and has done the right thing to protect the public’s health,” said Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, director of Dairy and Food Inspection Division at MDA.

Regulatory authorities will continue to work with Malt-O-Meal on the investigation. Anyone who has been ill with symptoms of salmonella after eating recalled product should consult their health care provider. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, but can begin up to a week after exposure. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days, but approximately 20 percent of cases require hospitalization. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can lead to death, particularly in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

Approximately 700 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in Minnesota.