( CNN ) -- King Nut Companies issued a total recall of peanut butter that it distributes Saturday amid fears of a salmonella outbreak that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said has infected 399 people in 42 states . Salmonella bacteria are transmitted to humans by eating contaminated foods . Ohio-based King Nut acknowledged in a statement that salmonella had been found in an open 5-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter . `` We are very sorry this happened , '' Martin Kanan , president of King Nut Companies , said in the statement . `` We are taking immediate and voluntary action because the health and safety of those who use our products is always our highest priority . '' King Nut peanut butter was identified as the source of an outbreak that may have contributed to one death in Minnesota , state public health officials said Friday . King Nut said Saturday that peanut butter sold under its label was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America . The release gave no other details on the manufacturer , but Peanut Corporation of America 's Web site lists its headquarters as Lynchburg , Virginia , and says it has processing operations in Virginia , Georgia and Texas . Peanut Corporation of America could not be immediately reached for comment . The CDC is working with public health officials in the 42 affected states to determine the cause of the outbreak of a type of salmonella called Typhimurium . Learn more about salmonella » . The first cases were reported September 3 , but most cases occurred between October 1 and December 31 , the CDC said . About 18 percent of victims were hospitalized as a result of their illness , and patients ' ages have ranged from 2 months to 98 years . California is reporting the highest case count , with 55 , followed by Ohio with 53 cases , Massachusetts with 39 , Minnesota with 30 and Michigan with 20 . The other 37 states are each reporting fewer than 20 cases . Eight states have reported no cases connected to the outbreak . They are Montana , New Mexico , Louisiana , Mississippi , South Carolina , Florida , Alaska and Hawaii . In its statement , King Nut said it distributes peanut butter `` only through food service accounts . It is not sold directly to consumers . '' The statement added , `` King Nut does not supply any of the ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label . All other King Nut products are safe and not included in this voluntary recall . '' Strains of salmonella linked to previous outbreaks have been traced to contaminated eggs , meat , poultry , vegetables , pet food and peanut butter . Salmonella infections can be treated with antibiotics , though some strains are resistant to these drugs , according to the CDC . Most people infected develop diarrhea , fever and abdominal cramps within a few days of infection , and their illness can last up to a week . Most recover without treatment , but some may suffer dehydration and , in severe cases , require hospitalization . Children , senior citizens , people with chronic illnesses and those with weak immune systems tend to be at highest risk for complications , according to the National Institutes of Health .
King Nut says salmonella found in 5-pound tub of peanut butter . At least 399 people have been infected in 42 states . CDC , public health officials working to determine source of outbreak . Comment: