The outbreak has been traced to the Peanut Corp. of America, which sells peanut paste and peanut butter to food companies and institutions such as nursing homes. (CBC)

More than 125 products have been voluntarily recalled in the U.S. because of a salmonella outbreak linked to peanuts, federal officials in the U.S. said Wednesday.

The list of products ranged from cakes, ice cream and dog biscuits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The products contained peanut butter or peanut paste made by the Peanut Corp of America. The Georgia-based company has suspended production of its products, which are not sold directly to consumers.

Among the latest companies to be included in the investigation is the weight-loss company NutriSystem. Its peanut butter granola bars have been recalled.

On Tuesday, health officials said the number of people sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products in the U.S. has increased to 485. Salmonella typhimurium infections may have contributed to the deaths of six people in the U.S.

Illnesses have been reported in 43 states and New Brunswick.

Among the 469 people for whom information is available, the illnesses began between Sept. 8, 2008, and Jan. 9, 2009, with most occurring after Oct. 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said. Of these cases, 23 per cent reported being hospitalized.

Investigators are testing if cases share the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain. Last week, more than 470 illnesses in the U.S. had been linked to the outbreak.

Canadian alert issued

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

The peanut products under recall in Canada were distributed across the country, but the volume of products and locations are unknown, a spokesperson for the agency said.

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 Lärabar.

Nature's Path Organic Foods of Richmond, B.C., is the only Canadian company with products linked to the outbreak.

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

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

With files from Associated Press