Daniele International Pepper Salame/Salami - Salmonella: Nationwide
Daniele International Inc., located in Pascoag and Mapleville, R.I., initiated a Class 1 (high health risk) recall of approximately 1,240,000 pounds of ready-to-eat varieties of pepper-coated Italian sausage products, (including salami/salame)because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. Simultaneously, the CDC issued a report on a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella montevideo, which is linked to the product. The recall was widened twice, and investigations began focusing on the red and black pepper used in the meat products.
On February 25, Wholesome Spice recalled all 25 lb lots of crushed red pepper produced between 4/6/09 and 1/20/10 because of potential contamination with Salmonella.
On January 26, Daniele Inc. announced that tests have confirmed the presence of Salmonella in the black pepper it was using. The company has switched to a pasteurized pepper product, but has not revealed the supplier of the tainted spice.
On January 29, 2010 Wholesome Spice was named as the likely source of the outbreak.
On January 31, Daniele Inc. expanded its recall to include 17,235 pounds of Italian sausage products.
On February 16, Daniele Inc. again expands its recall to include another 115.000 pounds of potentially contaminated salami. Here are a list of recalled products.
According to the CDC, as of March 17, a total of 252 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo, which displays either of two closely related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, have been reported from 44 states and District of Columbia since July 1, 2009. The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AK (1), AL (2), AZ (7), CA (31), CO (5), CT (5), DC (1), DE (3), FL (3), GA (3), IA (1), ID (4), IL (23), IN (4), KS (5), LA (1), MA (14), MD (1), ME (1), MI (4), MN (6), MO (2), MS (1), NC (11), ND (1), NE (3), NH (2), NJ (9), NM (2), NY (19), OH (9), OK (1), OR (10), PA (7), RI (2), SC (1), SD (3), TN (5), TX (7), UT (9), VA (1), WA (18), WI (1), WV (1), and WY (2). Because this is a commonly occurring strain, public health investigators may determine that some of the illnesses are not part of this outbreak. The CDC has posted information about the multi-state outbreak on its website (http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella) but the investigation is ongoing, and has not yet definitively identified a vehicle.
FSIS updated list of implicated retail locations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FSIS (Food Safety Inspection Service), state health and agriculture departments, were investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Montevideo illnesses when a sample of Daniele product was tested and found to contain Salmonella, which FSIS has a zero tolerance for in RTE products. The product tested was similar to products bought by customers who later became sick in the Montevideo investigation, but currently there is not a direct link. The Salmonella strain in the tested product does not appear to be the Montevideo strain of interest and further testing of the sample is ongoing. FSIS is continuing to work with the CDC, affected state public health partners, and the company on the investigation and will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available.
A list of the recalled items is available on the USDA website.
Chicago Man Sickened by Salmonella Pepper Salami Files Lawsuit A lawsuit was filed today against Daniele International Inc. in an ongoing nationwide outbreak of Salmonella linked to pepper salami.
Salmonella Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Pepper Salami Victim by Marler ClarkA second victim of the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella linked to pepper in salami meats has come forward to file a lawsuit against Daniele International Inc.