Plant in salmonella probe lays off workers

? A Georgia peanut butter plant at the center of a probe of a nationwide salmonella outbreak has laid off most of its roughly 50 workers.

Production is shut down at the Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, which made peanut butter and peanut paste blamed for sickening at least 486 people in more than 40 states since the fall. Six have died.

More than 125 products, from energy bars to cookies to dog biscuits, have been recalled because of possible contamination.

Peanut Corp. president Stewart Parnell confirmed the layoffs Friday through a public relations firm. It’s not clear when the plant will be running again and whether the workers will be brought back.

Investigators found salmonella contamination at the plant.