California's Department of Public Health has issued a warning to consumers not to consume or come in contact with peanut butter cookie dough that has been sold in some schools for a fundraising program. It said the frozen cookie dough, which was packaged without lot codes or "use-by" dates, may have been made with peanut butter that was voluntarily recalled by the Peanut Corporation of America as a possible source of the recent salmonella outbreak.

The cookie dough was distributed by Sweet Success Fundraising of Ontario and the health department said more than a dozen schools sold dough that may have been contaminated. The recalled cookie dough was sold to Sweet Success after Dec. 8. 

The food company, Sweet Success Fundraising Inc. based in southern California announced Monday it was recalling peanut butter cookie dough that was distributed as part of a fundraising activity to three southern California schools, including two in the Los Angeles area.

According to company spokeswoman Lilly Ceja, a total of 170 of the three-pound tubs of frozen cookie dough, which sell for 14 dollars apiece, could be affected.  "We didn't think twice to protect our reputation," Ceja said, though she refuted reports that said 13 schools throughout southern California were affected by the recall.

State health officials said till date no illnesses had been reported that were connected to the cookie dough. This latest salmonella outbreak in September has till now sickened more than 470 people in 43 states, with at least 90 of them having to be hospitalized, and may have been the cause of six deaths.

The Food and Drug Administration said the source of the salmonella was traced to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America which resulted in food manufacturer Kellogg Co. issuing a recall of 16 products containing peanut butter.

Food companies and grocers nationwide are pulling items made with peanut butter and consumers are being warned against eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter though peanut butter sold in jars is not included.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and others with a weakened immune system and symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.  (Additional Reporting by Harkiran)