Salmonella was found at a ConAgra Foods Inc. processing plant in Sylvester, Georgia, that was the source of contaminated Peter Pan peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
“The fact that FDA found salmonella in the plant environment further suggests that the contamination likely took place prior to the product reaching consumers,” the agency said today in an e-mailed statement. The agency also said the Georgia plant sent bulk peanut butter to a plant in Humboldt, Tennessee.
The FDA statement said the bulk peanut butter was used to make Sonic Brand ice cream toppings as well as Carvel Peanut Butter Topping for ice cream. The products were recalled Feb. 16, the FDA said.
The number of illnesses resulting from salmonella contamination in jars of peanut butter has climbed to 370, federal health officials said Tuesday.
The number is up from 329 confirmed cases last week. Forty-two states have confirmed cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ConAgra Foods Inc. on Feb. 14 recalled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter made at its Sylvester, Ga., plant after federal health officials linked the product to an outbreak of an unusual type of salmonella that has sickened people since August.
Sixty people have been hospitalized, but there have been no deaths, CDC officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
