Salmonella outbreak may be linked to tainted peanut butter

ATLANTA (AP) Federal health officials say a salmonella outbreak that has slowly grown to nearly 300 cases in 39 states since August may be linked to tainted peanut butter.

Officials with the Centers for Disease and Control in Atlanta say this is believed to be the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter.

Dr. Mike Lynch of the C-D-C says about 20 percent of the 288 infected people have been hospitalized, but none has died. About 85 percent of the infected people said they ate peanut butter.

Lynch says that how salmonella got into peanut butter is still under investigation. Health officials did not immediately identify a brand they believe to be linked with the outbreak.

The largest number of cases were reported in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri.

Lynch says it is only in the past few days that investigators were able to hone in on a particular food.