Having three kids, I was shocked when I read the headlines this morning. Not because "Veggie Booty" had been recalled, but because, having three kids, I had never heard of it.
State and federal public health officials warned consumers today not to eat Veggie Booty snack food. An ongoing investigation has identified Veggie Booty as the source of a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis, with cases occurring as far back as early March.
The makers of Veggie Booty, Robert's American Gourmet, today announced an immediate recall of all Veggie Booty products.
Having no idea what the heck this was, I pulled up Google.
In 2002, the company who makes Veggie Booty, as well as Pirate Booty and Fruity Booty, came under fire for having nutritional information that was incorrect. For example, they claimed Fruity Booty was mostly fruit when it in fact contained very little. At the time the nutritional panel claimed Veggie Booty contained 5 grams of fat, when in fact, an independent lab found that it contained up to 10 grams.
Then I found an article from back in 2005, where one person decribed Veggie Booty in more detail.
Veggie Booty is basically crack for babies. Which is exactly why parents buy it.
As with most recreational substances, I first encountered Booty at a party. We were at some friends' apartment celebrating their son's first birthday when I noticed a cluster of diaper-clad revelers hovering near a bowl of bright green nuggets. Never one to miss out on a good thing, my daughter crawled over and shoved a handful down her throat. The look that crossed her face that moment told me instantly that she had kissed the sky.
I sniffed at the bowl skeptically. It smelled funkier than day-old poop. On closer inspection, I discovered that it was powdery, and left a delicate green calling card on everything it touched. I gingerly deposited one on my tongue. It tasted like dirt.
Blech. Now I'm not so upset that I never heard about it. Anyway, if you have any Veggie Booty in your cupboard you might wanna toss it, before you find yourself ingesting salmonellosis.
Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Symptoms usually develop within one to five days after eating contaminated food. Most people get better without the need for medical attention, but Keene advises anyone who has eaten Veggie Booty and is ill with bloody diarrhea or diarrhea with fever to contact their health care provider.
Enjoy your day!
Chip Flowers
