The Quaker Oats Co., a subsidiary of PepsiCo Inc., is recalling a small amount of Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal from Target stores in three states after company tests showed the potential presence of Salmonella.

Company and federal officials are working to find the source of the possible contamination. Three of the stores are Super Target locations. The other two are P-Fresh locations, which are grocery-focused stores owned by Target.

“While the potentially affected product only reached five specific Target stores and is limited to 21 boxes of one variety with two Best Before Dates, Quaker is initiating the voluntary recall to protect public health,” according to the company’s recall notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

“The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the company, which revealed the finished product may contain bacteria.”

Quaker Oats distributed the recalled cereal to the five Target stores listed below. This recall only includes 21 outstanding boxes purchased after Nov 5. The 17.1-ounce boxes of Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal with UPC number 0 30000 6211 1 and “Best Before Dates of JUL 30 19 or JUL 31 19” were purchased at the following Target stores:

StoreAddressCityStateZip

Super Target4001 N 132nd StOmahaNE68164

P-Fresh4250 Rusty RdSaint LouisMO63128

Super Target10800 E 21st St NWichitaKS67206

Super Target8201 S 40th St.LincolnNE68516

P-Fresh1040 NE CoronadoBlue SpringsMO64014

No illnesses related to Salmonella have been confirmed in connection with the implicated cereal as of the posting of the recall notice.

Consumers who have purchased the cereal are advised not to consume it, and urged to dispose of or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. The public can call 800-234-6281 or find more information at cu.pepsico.com/capncrunch.

Advice for consumers
Food that is contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection, but infants, children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten the recalled product and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients need to be hospitalized. 

Older adults, children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

It is possible for some people to be infected with the bacteria and to not get sick or show any symptoms, but to still be able to spread the infection to others.