The salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter is blamed in six deaths and more than 470 cases of illnesses in 43 states. The most recent cases of salmonella have been reported in Baltimore.

 

Health officials said at least two of the patients were hospitalized. Authorities have urged consumers to avoid eating any products that contain peanut butter until they have more information about the current outbreak.

 

The number of manufacturers that are recalling peanut butter products increases. Kellogg's has recalled 16 products including peanut butter sandwich crackers and two varieties of peanut butter cookies. The list of companies which have voluntarily recalled peanut butter products includes the Midwest supermarket chain Hy-Vee Inc. of West Des Moines, Iowa, the Akron, New York-based Perry's Ice Cream Co., and the South Bend Chocolate Co. in Indiana, Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products in suburban Chicago, and McKee Foods Corp. of Collegedale, Tennessee.

 

More recalls may be in the works as the salmonella investigation continues. The list of products that are considered dangerous to human health includes cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods that contain peanut butter.

 

The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant. Officials said a previous outbreak of salmonella linked to contaminated peanut butter showed that the bacteria are not necessarily killed if these products are heat-treated or backed.

“We urge consumers to postpone eating those products including peanut butter until further information becomes available,” Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement.