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Recalls of peanut butter products were announced on Friday and Saturday, as the US Food and Drug Administration continued to search for the cause of a nationwide salmonella outbreak implicated in six deaths and 474 illnesses so far.

Iowa-based Hy-Vee Inc. on Saturday issued a voluntary recall of bakery products containing peanut butter that might be tainted with salmonella.

On Friday, Kellogg Company announced a voluntary recall of certain crackers and cookies because the peanut butter in the products could be contaminated.

The Hy-Vee and Kellogg actions came in response to an announcement on Friday that the Peanut Corporation of America had expanded an earlier voluntary recall to include all peanut butter produced on or after August 8, 2008, as well as all peanut paste produced on or after September 26, 2008 at its Georgia facility.

The FDA said on Friday that the Georgia plant was a possible source of contaminated peanut products. The PCA facility manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste for use in a range of products including cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream.

Common symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhea (possibly bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Rarely, the salmonella organism can invade the bloodstream and produce severe illnesses such as infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis. Salmonella infections are most dangerous to young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Hy-Vee products subject to the recall (all sell-by dates): Peanut Butter CookiesMonster CookiesPeanut Butter Reese's Pieces CookiesPeanut Butter Chocolate Chip CookiesLunchbox Reese's Pieces CookiesLunchbox Peanut Butter CookiesPeople Chow Party Mix and Assorted Truffle Fudge

Kellogg products impacted by the recall were produced on or after July 1, 2008: Austin Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizes Austin Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut ButterSandwich Crackers -- all sizesAustin Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizesAustin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches -- all sizesAustin Quality FoodsSuper Snack Pack Sandwich CrackersAustin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizesAustin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizesAustin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich CrackersAustin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich CrackersAustin Quality FoodsCookie/Cracker PackAustin Quality FoodsVariety PackKeebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizesKeebler Toast & PB'n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers -- all sizesKeebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizesFamous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce) Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce) Join the discussion! Send your comments to Daily News Central.

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