February 19, 2010
The number of people sickened by an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections associated with certain Italian-style sausage products including salami/salame is on the rise.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 230 people have now been infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo in at least 44 states and the District of Columbia. The CDC and public health officials in multiple states conducted an epidemiologic study by comparing foods eaten by 41 ill and 41 well persons.
Daniele International Inc. has recalled a variety of ready-to-eat Italian style meats. The recalled products, including salami and Hot Sopressata Calabrese, are regulated by the USDA-FSIS. The agency has published a complete list of the recalled products online.
Recent samples of black pepper collected by the Rhode Island Department of Health at Daniele International Inc. tested positive for Salmonella. One sample from an open container matched the outbreak strain.
The FDA is actively investigating the supply chain of the black pepper used in the manufacturing of the recalled meat products to see if it poses a risk to consumers. The Agency has collected and analyzed nearly 70 domestic and imported black pepper samples. All of FDA's samples have tested negative for the outbreak strain of Salmonella.
The FDA is continuing to investigate the possibility that pepper might be responsible for this outbreak and has not yet reached any conclusion. In abundance of caution, both of Daniele International Inc.'s immediate suppliers of pepper have temporarily placed the remaining supply of black pepper in potentially affected lots on hold while FDA continues its investigation.
The recalled meat products have an extended shelf life up to one year. Therefore, recalled products may still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes, including in the freezer.
Consumers are advised to make sure they do not have any of them in their homes. If they do, consumers should throw the products away immediately.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Individuals having consumed any Italian sausage products and who may be experiencing these symptoms should contact a health professional immediately.
