A tub of contaminated peanut butter found at a West Haven distributor is the first independently confirmed genetic match for the salmonella strain responsible for the nationwide outbreak, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said Tuesday.
The unopened container of King Nut peanut butter tested positive for salmonella last week, but further testing revealed the genetic link to the strain that has killed six people and sickened hundreds more across the country.
Get the full list of recalled peanut butter products here.
The contamination has been traced back to a Georgia processing plant owned by the Peanut Corporation of America, which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste for distribution to institutions and food companies.
Also Tuesday, General Mills Inc. and grocers Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and Meijer Inc. have joined the growing list of food companies and retailers pulling items containing peanut butter.
The Food and Drug Administration has advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learn more about the salmonella contamination. Most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe, government officials said.
