WASHINGTON — Federal health authorities on Saturday urged consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods that contain peanut paste and peanut butter until authorities can learn more about a deadly outbreak of salmonella contamination.
Most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe, said Stephen Sundlof, head of the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety center.
“As of now, there is no indication that the major national name-brand jars of peanut butter sold in retails stores are linked to the recall,” Sundlof told reporters in a conference call.
Officials are focusing on peanut paste, as well as peanut butter, produced at a Blakely, Ga., facility owned by Peanut Corporation of America. Its peanut butter is not sold directly to consumers but distributed to institutions and food companies. The peanut paste is an ingredient in cookies, cakes and other products that people buy in the supermarket.
So far, more than 470 people have gotten sick in 43 states, and at least 90 had to be hospitalized. At least six deaths are being blamed on the outbreak. Salmonella is a bacteria and the most common source of food poisoning in the U.S., causing diarrhea, cramping and fever.
Officials said new illnesses are still being reported.
The Kellogg Co., which listed Peanut Corp. as one of its suppliers, has recalled 16 products. Health officials said consumers who have bought those products should throw them away.
Peanut Corp. has recalled all peanut butter produced at the Georgia plant since Aug. 8 and all peanut paste produced since Sept. 26. The plant passed its last state inspection last summer, but recent tests have found salmonella.
The outbreak also has triggered a congressional inquiry and renewed calls for reform of food safety laws.
Kellogg voluntarily pulls items
Products recalled by the Kellogg Co., which uses Peanut Corp. as a supplier:
Austin Quality Foods
•Cheese Crackers With Peanut Butter
•Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers With Peanut Butter
•PB & J Cracker Sandwiches
•Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers
•Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Toasty Crackers With Peanut Butter
•Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers With Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Cookie/Cracker Pack
•Variety Pack
Keebler
•Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Toast & PB’n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers
•Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
•Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies (2 and 3 ounce)
•Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5 ounce)
