The principal source of microbial contamination associated with most processed food products manufactured in the U.S. is the post-processing environment. Many people do not expect dry products to present microbiological contamination, much less foodborne illness. However, this paradigm is changing. During April and May 1998, dry cereal was implicated in an outbreak of salmonellosis. A total of 209 cases were reported across 11 states with at least 47 people hospitalized. This resulted in a voluntary recall of approximately three million pounds of cereal. Dry cereal was not believed to present a risk from foodborne pathogens prior to this event.