Canadians should avoid various snack foods containing peanut butter that might be contaminated with salmonella, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has warned.

The tainted food products have been linked to at least six deaths in the U.S.

The agency issued a statement late Monday warning people not to eat some snack foods sold at Canadian stores, which importers are voluntarily recalling.

The snacks may have been made with peanut butter or peanut paste under investigation in the U.S. No illnesses related to consumption of the foods have been reported in Canada.

The CFIA's warning involves nationally distributed peanut butter snacks by Hebert's Fully Loaded, Nature's Path Organic Optimum, Clif Bar and Lurabar.

In the U.S. late Monday, General Mills Inc. and grocers Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and Meijer Inc. pulled products containing peanut butter from store shelves.

The U.S. government advised consumers to avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learn more about the Salmonella typhimurium contamination.

Most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appeared to be safe, officials said.

Some U.S. companies have assured their customers that their products were safe. The companies included: Russell Stover Candies Inc., ConAgra Foods Inc., maker of Peter Pan peanut butter, and J.M. Smucker Co., whose brands include Jif, Eagle Brand, Pillsbury and Smucker's.

The CFIA said it will update its list to include any additional products distributed in Canada and is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Last week, the agency said one New Brunswick resident fell ill but that the person was known to visit the U.S. often and likely consumed an affected product while there.

In the U.S., more than 470 people in 43 states have been sickened by salmonella.

Recall notice