Vital Technologies, Inc.

It has been confirmed that at least one source of contamination that has caused an epic outbreak of salmonella has been identified. Peanut butter and peanut paste.

Food manufactures have been issuing recalls all last week since the identification of the contamination. This outbreak has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states. At least 90 people have been hospitalized.

Officials have been focusing on peanut paste and peanut butter made at Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Blakely, Ga. On Sunday, Peanut Corp. expanded its own recall to all peanut butter and peanut paste produced at the Blakely plant since July 1. The company does not sell directly to consumers but provides manufactures of other food products with their peanut products. These products include peanut butter crackers, cookies, ice cream, cake, etc.

The recall last week by Kellogg, the world's largest cereal maker, affected products including Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies, Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers. Kellogg has recalled 16 of its products due to fear of contamination. It is estimated the recall affected 7 million cases of its products. It is not sure how many packages of Kellogg’s products have tested positive for salmonella.

On Monday, Midwestern grocer and retailer Meijer Inc. said it was recalling two types of crackers and two varieties of ice cream because of the possibility of salmonella contamination: Meijer brand Cheese and Peanut Butter and Toasty Peanut Butter sandwich crackers, and Peanut Butter and Jelly and Peanut Butter Cup ice cream.

Officials with the Food and Drug Administration have warned people to be cautious of consuming peanut butter and other peanut products. Salmonella may be the most common form of food poisoning in the U.S. Although most cases end with abdominal cramping, fever and diarrhea lasting about a week, some cases may become much more severe.