US peanut butter linked to poisonings

BRITISH consumers were today warned not to eat peanut butter made in America after 474 cases of salmonella poisoning in 43 states.

The Food Standards Agency issued the alert and said so far there had been no reported outbreaks in the UK linked to contaminated jars.

The exact source of the US outbreak is not known but traces of the bacteria have been found at a plant owned by the Peanut Corporation of America which makes peanut butter and paste used as an ingredient in many products.

Reeses Pieces peanut butter cookies are among products recalled as well as ice cream, cereal and sweets.