SEATTLE - Residents of Maine and Minnesota are confirmed infected with Salmonella Agona, the strain of Salmonella identified in the Malt-O-Meal recall, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that at least 14 other states are reporting illnesses. Two victims have been hospitalized in Maine, and more than 23 cases are under investigation by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 1998, Malt-O-Meal cereals were linked to multiple infections of the same Salmonella Agona serotype, and hundreds were sickened. "Not only is it the same strain of Salmonella," said Seattle attorney William Marler, who represented victims of the first Malt-O-Meal outbreak, "But it's the same genetic fingerprint, coming out of the same plant. It makes me wonder how long the contamination has been present."

On April 5, 2008 the Malt-O-Meal Company of Minnesota recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals produced with "Best If Used By" codes between April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808") and March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809"). The recalled product was distributed nationally, marketed under the Malt-O-Meal brand and as some private label brands including Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality.