FDA Update on the Investigation into the Salmonella Montevideo Outbreak

The FDA, CDC and USDA/FSIS continue to work with the Rhode Island Department of Health and other states in the investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections associated with certain Italian-style sausage products including salami/salame.

The CDC reports that 238 people have 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.

The FDA is actively investigating the supply chains of both black and red pepper used in the manufacturing of the variety of ready-to-eat Italian-style meats recalled by Daniele International Inc. The Agency has collected and is analyzing 153 composite pepper samples, which represent more than 4,000 individual samples.  To date, samples from two lots of crushed red pepper collected from Daniele International Inc. have tested positive for Salmonella. The FDA is working to determine if the type of Salmonella found in the samples matches the outbreak strain.

Based on FDA’s and the state of Rhode Island’s confirmed test results, the supplier of crushed red pepper, Wholesome Spice, Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling 25-pound boxes of crushed red pepper sold from April 6, 2009, to Jan. 20, 2010.

The FDA continues to investigate and work with Wholesome Spice to determine the source of the crushed red pepper contamination. Wholesome Spice sells spices directly to commercial customers, who may have incorporated them into their own products. FDA is currently working with Wholesome Spice to identify the customers who received the recalled product and determine if further recalls are necessary.

A complete listing of all recalled products and a list of the stores that sold these products can be found at USDA/FSIS.