Kellogg peanut butter cracker recall: Austin, Keebler recall crackers

Kellogg has recalled its peanut butter cracker products! The cereal giant has ordered a recall of Keebler and Austin peanut butter crackers as a precautionary measure in light of reported deaths due to salmonella in peanut butter. Kellogg has urged stores to stop selling its popular Keebler and Austin peanut butter crackers as health officials reported two more deaths in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that is linked to peanut butter. Though no findings or complaints have been received by the company, it has decided to recall its peanut butter crackers just the same.

"We are taking these voluntary actions out of an abundance of caution," Kellogg CEO David Mackay said in a released official statement.

The company is "removing product from retail store shelves and encouraging customers and consumers to hold and not eat these products until regulatory officials complete their investigation of PCA," a news release on the Kellogg Co. Web site said late Wednesday.

"We are taking these voluntary actions out of an abundance of caution," CEO David Mackay said in the news release.

The crackers are Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers.

The national salmonella outbreak has been blamed for the hospitalization of more than 430 people in 43 states. Health officials in states of Minnesota and Idaho reported earlier in the week that one death in each state had been linked to the outbreak. Another death in Minnesota and two in Virginia were confirmed on Tuesday. Though the causes of their death are yet to be determined, all five were adults who had salmonella when they died and may have contributed to their death.

The Kellogg peanut butter cracker recall was prompted by a similar move made earlier by one of its peanut paste suppliers, Peanut Corp. of America. The recall follows findings that bacteria in an open container of King Nut creamy peanut butter in Minnesota was a genetic match to the strain of salmonella that has struck across the country in recent days. According to the Associated Press, Peanut Corp. issued a recall Tuesday of 21 lots of peanut butter for possible salmonella contamination. The product was made at a plant in Blakely, Georgia, on or after July 1, 2008, and sold under the brand name Parnell's Pride and by the King Nut Company as King Nut.