Suspected Salmonella Pauses Pot Pie Plant

ConAgra Foods Inc. voluntarily stopped production Tuesday at the Missouri plant that makes its Banquet pot pies after health officials said the pies may be linked to 139 cases of salmonella in 30 states.

ConAgra maintains that its pies are safe if they're cooked properly, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a health alert Tuesday afternoon to warn consumers about the link between the company's product and the salmonella cases.

In a press release, ConAgra Foods says that the Agriculture Department advisory pertains specifically to Banquet brand frozen chicken or turkey pot pie products as well as generic store brand not-ready-to-eat pot pie products that have the number "P-9" printed on the side of the package. The company stresses that consumers need to carefully observe the recommended heating times.

"The cooking instructions for these products are specifically designed to eliminate the presence of common pathogens found in many uncooked products," the ConAgra release states,but adds that they are "working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify any additional steps that may be appropriate, including potential changes that may further clarify cooking instructions for consumers."

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking reports of the salmonella cases since Wednesday. A CDC spokeswoman said the largest numbers of salmonella cases had been reported in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the U.S. and kills about 600. Most of the deaths are among people with weaker immune systems such as the elderly or very young. It can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Most cases of salmonella poisoning are caused by undercooked eggs and chicken.