Kroger joins peanut butter recall

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Kroger - a grocery store chain with stores in 31 states - has issued a recall for foods made with peanut products, widening recalls related to the Peanut Corporation of America.

The Food and Drug Administration has accused the Peanut Corporation of America of knowingly selling peanut butter and peanut paste that was contaminated with salmonella. The peanut butter and peanut paste have been used to make food products nationwide.

The Georgia-based company is being investigated in connection with a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people and has been linked to eight deaths.

Kroger, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the United States, is recalling products in 31 states where it operates stores under various names. The stores involved are Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less.

Kroger said it was recalling peanut butter store-baked and store-packaged cookies and select cakes sold in its family of stores because the products could be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the cookies and cakes, the company said in a statement on its Web site.

According to the FDA, peanut butter sold in jars -- including Kroger-brand peanut butter -- is not involved in the salmonella investigation.

Kroger (KR, Fortune 500) said it is recalling all packages of the following Kroger, store-brand and Private Selection store-baked and store-packaged cookies:

• Peanut Butter Cookies - Regular, Jumbo, Decorated, Iced, Gourmet, Mini and Sandwich cookies
• Assorted and Variety Bakery Cookies - Regular and Jumbo
• Private Selection Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Private Selection Gourmet Variety Cookie Trays

Kroger is recalling all sizes of the following Private Selection Cakes, including whole, half and packaged slices: Private Selection Chocolate Trio Single-Layer and Double-Layer Iced Cakes

Customers are asked to return these products for a refund or replacement. Customers with questions are asked to call Kroger at (800) 632-6900 or to visit www.kroger.com/recalls.

Across the country, hundreds of products using Peanut Corporation of America's peanut paste and peanut butter have been recalled, and the FDA has urged consumers to check the agency's Web site frequently for updates. (Recalled peanut products can be found here.)

Federal health officials recommend that consumers throw away any recalled products and not consume any products whose safety cannot be verified.

The American Peanut Council has compiled a list of companies not implicated in the recall on www.peanutsusa.com.