Laboratory tests by the Georgia Department of Agriculture have confirmed Salmonella contamination in some peanut butter manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) processing facility in Blakely, Georgia.

"We have confirmation for Salmonella," said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin. "The sample that tested positive came from an unopened five-pound tub of King Nut Creamy Peanut Butter with "Best Before 1/07/10" collected at the plant by one of our inspectors."

Further testing will be required to determine if this is the type of Salmonella linked to illnesses across the country.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is currently running laboratory tests on other samples of peanut butter manufactured by this plant.

PCA ceased production of peanut butter at its Blakely plant on January 9, the date the investigation began. "We will be working with our state and federal counterparts to determine the cause of this contamination," said Commissioner Irvin.