Cereal sold in the U.S. and found to be tainted with salmonella is suspected to have sickened at least 23 people, U.S. officials say.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Saturday that diagnoses of salmonellosis linked with the consumption of Malt-O-Meal cereals have been reported in 14 states. Three people have been treated in hospital.

The cereals, which were recalled in the U.S. on April 5, were also sold under the brand names Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, Shoprite, Tops and Weis Quality. The affected cereals were marked with the best-before date of April 8, 2008, through Mar. 18, 2009.

Meanwhile, officials in Minnesota are also probing another possible case connected to the recalled cereals.

"The Malt-O-Meal company has been extremely co-operative in this investigation and has done the right thing to protect the public's health," said Heidi Kassenborg, director of the dairy and food inspection division at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, in a statement.

Common symptoms of salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, although more serious consequences are possible, especially in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

With files from the Associated Press