WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - A seasoning mix may be the source of salmonella bacteria that contaminated Veggie Booty snacks earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.

Sixty-one children in 19 states became ill between March and June in an outbreak of foodborne illness, said the FDA. The FDA said its tests confirmed a strain of salmonella was responsible.

"Preliminary testing suggests that the seasoning mix used in Veggie Booty may be the source of the contamination," the agency said. "FDA will continue to trace back the ingredients and processing methods used for the seasoning mix, seeking to determine whether the seasoning actually is the source of the problem."

Veggie Booty is a snack containing spinach, kale and other vegetables.

Robert's American Gourmet, of Sea Cliff, New York, halted distribution of Veggie Booty on June 28 and began a recall of it and another snack, Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks, that uses the same seasoning. The FDA advises consumers not to eat either product.

On its Web site, Robert's American Gourmet said the seasoning came from a New Jersey company and "it is believed the ingredient at issue was obtained from China." Robert's said it would adopt testing measures for its ingredients "which far exceed" industry and government standards.

Chinese manufacturers were blamed for melamine contamination of U.S pet food and tainted toothpaste in Central America this spring. On June 28, the FDA announced a temporary hold on imports of farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood from China until suppliers could prove the shipments were free of harmful residues.

Salmonella infection typically causes diarrhea, accompanied by abdominal cramps and fever. It can be life-threatening in infants, people with poor underlying health and those with weakened immune systems.

AlertNet news is provided by