ATLANTA — Health officials say the number of people sickened in a national salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter has grown to 485 cases, as more manufacturers and retailers joined in a recall of peanut products.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday the number has been inching up from a previously reported minimum of 470 as lab tests confirm that new cases have the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain. The illnesses have been reported in 43 states and Canada, and may have contributed to the deaths of six people. Eleven in Colorado reportedly were sickened.
The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America, which makes peanut butter and peanut paste.
The government says consumers should avoid cookies, cakes and other foods containing peanut butter pending the results of the investigation. Peanut butter sold in jars to consumers is not included.
General Mills Inc. and grocers Kroger Co. and Safeway Inc. have joined the growing list of food companies and retailers pulling items made with peanut butter.
The FDA has created a searchable list of recalled products and brands on the agency’s website, .
The CDC said the bacterium behind the outbreak is common and not an unusually dangerous strain but that the elderly or those with weakened immune systems are more at risk. At least five of the six people who have died were elderly. All had salmonella when they died, though exact causes of death haven’t been determined.
Peanut Corp. expanded its own recall Sunday to all peanut butter and peanut paste produced since July 1 at its plant in Blakely, Ga. The recalled products were distributed to institutions, food-service industries and private-label food companies in 24 states.
Late Monday, Safeway said some of the products it makes, including Ready Pack Eating Right Kids Apples with Peanut Butter and Orchard Valley Harvest’s Organic Bark Peanut Butter Cookies and Cream, may use peanut butter involved in the recall.
Kellogg Co. recalled 16 cracker and cookie products last week.
Kroger recalled its Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in stores named City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC and Smith’s in 11 states, primarily in the West.
General Mills recalled two flavors of snack bars, LaraBar Peanut Butter Cookie and JamFrakas Peanut Butter Bliss crisp. Clif Bar & Co. recalled some Clif-branded bars, including some under Luna and Clif Mojo labels.
Abbott Nutrition recalled ZonePerfect and NutriPal bars containing peanuts.
