Peter Pan peanut butter has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has caused hundreds of illnesses nationwide. The problem most likely stems from unsanitary equipment at the production facility, officials said.

However, the outbreak, which began in August, has been linked to peanut butter produced by Sylvester, Ga.-based ConAgra Foods, specifically the Peter Pan brand and some batches of Wal-Mart's Great Value.

The Sylvester plant is the company's only peanut butter producing facility, and all Peter Pan peanut butter is produced there.

Jars of peanut butter that have the product code 2111 should be discarded, consumers have been advised. The code indicates the plant where the spread was produced.

It is likely that the contamination resulted from dirty equipment, officials speculated, since peanuts are brought to a high, germ-destroying temperature during production. The only other known incident of peanut butter linked to Salmonella occurred in Australia and was connected to unsanitary conditions.

All jars of Peter Pan peanut butter manufactured from May 2006 to the present have been recalled.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, but in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.