BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Peanut butter has been linked to the salmonella bacteria that has sickened at least 410 in 43 states, Minnesota health officials announced Monday while Federal officials said the outbreak may have contributed to three deaths.

    Investigators found the bacteria in a 5-pound (2 kg) package of King Nut peanut butter was a genetic match with the bacterial strain that has led to 30 illnesses in Minnesota and others across the country.

    "The commonality among all of our patients was that they ate peanut butter," said Doug Schultz, a spokesman with the Minnesota Department of Health. While the brand of peanut butter couldn't be confirmed in every case, the majority of patients consumed the same brand, he said Monday.

    On Saturday Ohio-based food distributor King Nut Cos said it had contacted its customers and asked them to remove all King Nut peanut butter and Parnell's Pride peanut butter from the market.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said preliminary analysis suggest peanut butter as a likely source of the outbreak. Common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores do not appear to be associated with the outbreak, the CDC said.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and state health officials have been trying to trace the source of the outbreak.

    An outbreak of salmonella was linked to Peter Pan brand peanut butter in 2007. ConAgra Foods Inc(CAG.N) closed a Georgia plant after more than 300 people became ill.

    Salmonella is a bacteria -- usually found in poultry, eggs and meat -- that attacks the stomach and intestines. It causes diarrhea or constipation, headaches, nausea, fever, stomach cramps and vomiting, and is typically spread by improper disinfecting in food preparation.

    Every year, approximately 40,000 people are reported ill with salmonella in the United States, the CDC said, but it said many more cases are never reported.

    (Agencies)