Consumers urged to avoid peanut cookies

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. federal officials say cookies and crackers containing peanut butter should be avoided until further investigation into a salmonella outbreak.

Some products made by the Peanut Corp. of America, of Blakely, Ga., were found to contain salmonella, though no direct link was found to the strain that sickened 474 people in 43 states, CNN reported Sunday.

Six recent deaths may be linked to the salmonella outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Saturday.

Peanut Corp. sells peanut butter and peanut paste in bulk to manufacturers and institutions such as prisons, nursing homes and schools, with the peanut paste used to make cakes, candy, crackers, cookies and ice cream.

Peanut Corp. does not directly supply grocery chains, so brand-name peanut butters should not have been affected, CNN reported.

The Kellogg Co., of Battle Creek, Mich., Saturday recalled 16 products, including Keebler and Famous Amos peanut butter cookies, because they contain peanut butter that could be linked to Peanut Corp.