One of my son’s favorite snacks has been recalled. Fortunately, we have not purchased any Veggie Booty for quite some time, but I know this is a popular natural, but not organic (just the soy flour is organic), snack for children. Veggie Booty is made by Robert’s American Gourmet and is made of puffed corn rice with a blend of spinach, kale, carrots, parsley, broccoli, and cabbage.

If you have a bag of Veggie Booty, you should dispose of it immediately. In a letter from Rob himself, he writes, “Robert’s American Gourmet has been alerted to a recent outbreak of salmonella and the potential contamination of Veggie Booty. Due to the serious nature of the health risk, Robert’s has decided to temporarily stop the manufacture and sale of Veggie Booty ONLY until test results can positively identify the source. We stand by our snacks and hope to resume making Veggie Booty shortly.” To obtain a refund, simply send the empty bag of Veggie Bootie, along with your name, address, phone number, store where you purchased the product, and the purchase price to
Robert’s American Gourmet
Veggie Booty Recall
P.O. box 326
Sea Cliff, New York 11579

There are a suspected 51 cases of salmonella poisoning from Veggie Booty in 17 states. According to MSNBC, “none of the products has tested positive for salmonella, but the company acted as a precaution after the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that many of the infected people had eaten the product.” Salmonella can grow on any food substances and causes fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. It can be fatal for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Long term effects can include severe arthritis.

Organic and health food are not immune to the risks of salmonella and other bacterias that enter our food supply. There is also a recall on Maranatha Organic Raw Tahini for salmonella bacteria. As long as we continue to process our food in factories and ship across the country, the chances for food borne illnesses will increase. In fact, according to the CDC, 5000 deaths a year occur in the US from food borne illnesses. The typical ingredient on your table has traveled 1500 miles to reach your home. The 100 Mile Diet is not only good for the planet, but I believe it protects consumers from food borne illnesses as well.

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