Health Law

Salami/pepper outbreak and recall summary

By Drew Falkenstein

The CDC updated its statement on the large Salmonella outbreak linked to now-recalled salami and red and black pepper.  According to the CDC's April 1 statement, the outbreak has sickened 252 people in 44 states and the District of Columbia.  The outbreak strain of Salmonella is Montevideo, but Salmonella Senftenberg has also been found in recalled product.  It is presently unknown, at least publicly, how many Salmonella Senftenberg illnesses are linked to the outbreak. 

The first level of companies (i.e. those that manufactured the recalled products) involved in this outbreak and recall are Daniele Inc., a Rhode Island specialty foods maker, and Wholesome Spice and Seasoning Company and Mincing Overseas Spice Company.  The recalled products include well over one million pounds of salami and both black and crushed red pepper.  The outbreak happened because Daniele used Salmonella-contaminated pepper (both red and black) in the manufacture of its salami products.  Both the red and black pepper have tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella. 

As is relatively common in a situation where a base ingredient like pepper is contaminated, it is not just recalled Daniele Inc salami products that are potentially contaminated and should be avoided.  The outbreak has resulted in a "rolling recall," where other Wholesome Spice and Mincing Overseas customers have received contaminated product, and have also initiated product recalls.  See the FDA's complete list of recalled pepper products.  Notably, companies continue to recall products on a fairly regular basis, but there has been no public statement whether additional illnesses are linked to pepper contained in anything other than Daniele's salami products. 

We have filed two lawsuits on behalf of people sickened in the outbreak, including Lee Hanks and Raymond Ciriimele.  Notably, however, these victim suits are not the only lawsuits that have been filed as a result of the outbreak and recall.  Daniele Inc has also sued Wholesome Spice Company and Mincing Overseas for substantial business losses incurred as a result of selling Daniele contaminated product. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on April 03, 2010 (boomark / email).