Food Poisoning Law Blog : Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : PritzkerLaw : Food Safety, Outbreaks & Recalls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in the process of verifying that the Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak involving contaminated red and black pepper is under control.

Since the agency last reported on the outbreak, very few cases have been added to the total, which now stands at 252 Salmonella Montevideo illnesses in 44 states. There's another nine cases of Salmonella infections of serotype Senftenberg related to the outbreak, the CDC has said.

Of 193 patients for which medical treatment information was available, 51 victims have been hospitalized and no one has died.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of this outbreak and is continuing to accept cases. To receive a free case consultation, call a Salmonella lawyer at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page. 

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions for food poisoning victims. Our firm also is actively involved in efforts to prevent foodborne illness, including supporting tougher legislation in Congress to strengthen the U.S. system of food inspection and regulation.

The CDC said in its latest press release on the Daniele International outbreak that it is still working with the USDA , FDA and state partners to identify the specific products or ingredients that became contaminated and how the contamination occurred. The agencies also are still trying to identify any other food vehicles that may be involved.

The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo 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).

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 A Washington Post story on food safety says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants many spice companies to clean up their acts by putting their seasonings through a kill step to rid them of pathogens.

The story said FDA officials recently met with spice industry officials as part of its re-examination of contamination problems. The review is being prompted by a widespread outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo strongly associated with black and red pepper -- including the pepper used in more than 1.4 million pounds of recalled Daniele International Inc. salami products.

Health investigators have confirmed 249 Salmonella infections from the outbreak strain of Salmonella, including  more than 60 people hospitalized. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of the outbreak and is continuing to accept cases. Families in need of a free case consultation can call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page.

The Post story said the FDA wants spice handlers to use one of three approved methods to rid spices of bacteria: irradiation, steam heating or fumigation with ethylene oxide, a pesticide. Unless Congress adopts new legislation, the FDA can only suggest the change -- not mandate it.

"Consumers often associate salmonella with poultry, meat and other moist foods. But microbiologists say that the bacterium can survive in dried spices for years and that it is tougher to kill in a dry environment.

"Also, it takes only a small amount of salmonella in a dry environment to cause human illness, said Linda Harris, a microbiologist at the University of California at Davis,'' the story said.

Cheryl Deem, executive director of the American Spice Trade Association, told the newspaper that contamination of raw ingredients has long been a problem. That because the vast majority of spices are cultivated outside of the U.S., where processing methods often result in contamination, she said.

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The Food and Drug Administration is looking closer at the handling of spices from grower to end-user as it also continues to probe a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak related to red and black pepper in Daniele salami products.

The salami outbreak has prompted Daniele Salmonella litigation and national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims. The firm is continuing to accept cases from the outbreak and victims can receive a free consultation by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the information panel on the side of this Web page. 

In its probe of the Daniele salami outbreak, FDA is working with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others to determine the extent to which pepper played a role. The outbreak has sickened more than 245 people in 44 states and has hospitalized more than 60. It started last July.

In the latest FDA report on the salami Salmonella outbreak, the agency said it has collected 153 composite pepper samples at various locations in the supply chain. Samples from four products collected at Daniele International Inc. in Rhode Island tested positive for Salmonella. Samples of crushed red pepper have tested positive for the outbreak strain.

FDA also said it collected samples of pepper from commercial customers (besides Daniele) of Mincing Overseas Spice Company and Wholesome Spice Company. Thus far, two of the samples collected have tested positive for types of Salmonella not associated with the outbreak. The findings prompted Heartland Foods Inc. to recall course ground pepper and Mincing Overseas Spice Company to recall black pepper lot 3309. 

The overall review of bacterial contamination of spices started last spring and involves developing a spice risk profile. It is designed to help identify what the industry and food safety inspectors can do differently to guard against pathogens.  Some members of the spice industry have already agreed to provide data to FDA for the risk profile, which will help the agency decide how to allocate its prevention resources or possibly make new rules. 

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More food companies may be recalling their products under a continuing investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies into the Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak.

The FDA has announced in a press release that microbiological testing of ingredients manufactured by a supplier to Daniele has found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in crushed red pepper.

The name of the supplier is Wholesome Spice of Brooklyn, New York.

"Wholesome Spice sells spices directly to commercial customers, who may have incorporated them into their own products,'' FDA said in a press release. "FDA is currently working with Wholesome Spice to identify the customers who received the recalled product and determine if further recalls are necessary.''

The probe stems from an outbreak of Salmonella linked to salami and salame products made by Daniele International Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed at least 238 illnesses in 44 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 60 hospitalizations. The outbreak started last July, but salami wasn't implicated until January. No one has died.

Red and black pepper are possible root causes of the outbreak, officials have said. 

"The FDA is actively investigating the supply chains of both black and red pepper used in the manufacturing of the recalled meat products. The Agency has collected and is analyzing 153 composite pepper samples, which represent more than 4,000 individual samples.''

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of the outbreak and is continuing to accept cases. We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected tens of millions for victims of food poisoning.

To talk to a Salmonella attorney about your case, free consultations are available by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).  If you would rather complete the contact form on the side of this Web page, a lawyer will call you.  

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A Brooklyn, New York, company that sold ingredients to Daniele International Inc. has recalled all of the crushed red pepper that it sold in 25-pound boxes since April 6, 2009.

The recall by Wholesome Spice was triggered by a finding of Salmonella in the spice by Daniele -- a Rhode Island company whose salami products are associated with a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo. At least 238 people have been sickened and more than 60 hospitalized. No one has died.

The FDA announced today that its own tests and tests by the Rhode Island Department of Health have confirmed the finding. FDA is working with Wholesome Spice to find the source of the contamination.

The Wholesome Spice recall covers 25-pound packages of crushed red pepper sold between 4/6/09 and 1/20/10. The product was sold in the northeastern United States to institutional customers, not retail outlets.

A Food and Drug Administration recall news release said it can't be determined at this time if the red pepper has made anyone sick, but the company has said it believes red and black pepper is the source of Salmonella contamination in its recalled salami.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of this outbreak in Salmonella litigation and is continuing to accept more cases. To contact a Salmonella lawyer at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered millions for victims.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. In rare circumstances, Salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

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Initially thought to be caused by contaminated black pepper coatings, the Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak now features a recall of company products made with crushed red pepper.

The USDA announced in a press release today the fourth recall of Daniele salami products since the Salmonella Montevideo outbreak was announced January 23. The latest recall covers 115,000 pounds of salami/salame panino products made with red pepper and also containing mozzarella cheese.

Consumer Alert: The latest Daniele, Boar's Head and Dietz & Watson salami products recalled by the company were sold nationwide with use-by dates ranging from February 3, 2010, through May 26, 2010. An unopened sample of these ready-to-eat sausages was found by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to contain Salmonella. Lab testing is continuing to see if it matches the outbreak strains of Salmonella Montevideo that have infected 230 people in 44 states and Washington, D.C.

FSIS said Daniele company officials have done preliminary ingredient testing and believe the latest recalled products contain crushed red pepper contaminated with Salmonella.

The investigation into the outbreak, which started last July, is "ongoing and the root cause has not yet been determined,'' the FSIS said.

Taking the four separate recalls together, more than 2.7 million pounds of Daniele, Boar's Head and Dietz & Watson salami/salame panino products have been recalled.

If you or someone you love has been sickened by this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

We are a national food safety law firm that has been in touch with victims of this outbreak. We already represent a woman made seriously ill by pepper contaminated with Salmonella. Our firm is a leading practioner of foodborne illness litigation and we are involved in practically every major outbreak of food poisoning, collecting millions for victims in every corner of the United States.

Below is a list of the most recent recalled products, which all contain USDA establishment number EST 459. Click here to see the combined searchable list of all products recalled by Rhode Island-based Daniele in connection with Salmonella outbreak.

• 8-ounce packages of “DANIELE HOT SALAME PANINO WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA.”
• 8-ounce packages of “BOAR’S HEAD SALAME PANINO, SALAME ROLLED IN MOZZARELLA CHEESE.”
• 8-ounce packages of “DANIELE ITALIAN STYLE SALAME PANINO, HOT SALAME ROLLED IN MOZZARELLA CHEESE.”
• Random weight packages of “DANIELE ITALIAN STYLE SALAME PANINO, HOT SALAME ROLLED IN MOZZARELLA CHEESE.”
• 8-ounce packages of “DIETZ & WATSON ARTISAN COLLECTION HOT SALAME PANINO, HOT SALAME ROLLED IN MOZZARELLA CHEESE.”
• 8-ounce packages of “DANIELE SALAME PANINO WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA AND BASIL.”
• 1-pound 8-ounce variety packages of “DANIELE CAPOCOLLO PANINO WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA AND BASIL; PRESIDENT’S PROSCIUTTO PANINO WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA AND BASIL; HOT SALAME PANINO WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA,” with UPC Code 736436709582. NOTE: The products contained in this variety three-pack may be sold individually as well.

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In the past three weeks of tracking by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of illnesses confirmed in the Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak has grown by 33 cases to the current level of 217 illnesses in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

The most recent onset of illness confirmed in the investigation came on January 18, but there's always a couple of weeks of lag time before a person who is sick from the outbreak strain of Salmonella is analyzed and confirmed as a victim.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is accepting cases from this outbreak and has years of experience representing the families of individuals who have become seriously and deathly ill from Salmonella poisoning. We are a leading practitioner of  foodborne illness litigation, recovering tens of millions for victims over the years.

The latest CDC update confirms the hardest hit states as California (30 cases), New York (18), Washington (15),  Illinois (14) and Massachusetts (12). More than 50 people have been hospitalized nationwide and no deaths have been reported.

State and federal health investigators have found DNA evidence that pepper salami and hot sopressata calabrese Italian style sausage products made by Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island, caused the outbreak. The company has recalled 1.26 million pounds of product and the CDC is following the pepper trail to see if any other peppered food products are vehicles of the current outbreak.

It has been shown that the two distributors who sold black pepper to Daniele used common overseas sources for the product. 

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The Food and Drug Administration is actively investigating the supply chain of the black pepper used in the manufacturing of recalled salami products strongly believed to be the cause of a nationwide Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak.

Rhode Island health officials discovered the outbreak strain of Salmonella in an open pepper container at the plant where the salami is made and two other government labs confirmed the outbreak strain of Samonella in products that have been recalled. 

FDA said it has collected and is currently analyzing black pepper samples. "To date, all the samples collected and analyzed by the FDA have tested negative for Salmonella; however, sample collection and analysis continues,'' the agency said in a press release.

The latest report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 202 people from 42 states and Washington, D.C., have been sickened by the same strain of Salmonella Montevideo since early July 2009. The most recent, documented onset of illness was January 11.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is monitoring the ongoing investigation, which could possibly lead to additional recalls if contaminated pepper from the same supplier went into other ready-to-eat products. Our firm is accepting salami Salmonella cases from those sickened by the 1.24 million pounds of salami products recalled January 23 by Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island.

If you or a loved one was sickened in this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at our firm for a free case consultation by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. We currently represent Salmonella victims and have collected millions over the years for victims of food poisoning.

Pritzker Olsen is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and its founder and president, Fred Pritzker, is a sought-after speaker for food safety causes. This particular Salmonella outbreak caused by adulterated salami could have been prevented long before it hospitalized 38 people. A major part of our mission at Pritzker Olsen is to actively support measures of prevention in industry and government.

The FDA is warning consumers to avoid salami products recalled by Daniele because the products have a shelf life of up to a year and potentially contaminated packages could still be in grocery stores or in home freezers and refrigerators. Click here to see the complete Daniele salami recall listing. For a list of the retailers who handled this product, click here.

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Rhode Island Department of Health has confirmed  that the same strain of Salmonella Montevideo that has infected almost 200 people in 40 states has been found in an open container of pepper at salami maker Daniele Inc.

The Pascoag, Rhode Island, company previously announced a Salmonella finding in its pepper inventory, but didn't say whether the isolate was a DNA match to the strain making people sick across the country since last July.

The state didn't identify the brand of pepper or name the supplier, but did say that this particular brand was only distributed to Daniele Inc. in Rhode Island. The announcement does not ensure that Daniele pepper salami is the only product that caused the outbreak. But so far no products have been added to the Salmonella outbreak recall list.

Because the pepper sample that tested positive by Rhode Island Health came from an open container, it is considered the probable source of the outbreak and more tests are being conducted, the state said.

Previous lab tests by state health officials in Iowa and Washington found the outbreak strain of Samonella in open packs of recalled Daniele sliced variety packs containing pepper salami. 

A key finding in the investigation came from Washingon, where state investigators reviewing shopping receipts verified that 13 cases purchased the same salami variety pack before getting sick. The Iowa salami Salmonella confirmation came from a sample found in salami from a pack that one of the cases had eaten. 

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is accepting cases from this outbreak. We are currently representing Salmonella victims nationwide, including some who have suffered long-term consequences, such as arterial infections. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page for a free case consultation about your rights to compensation for a Salmonella outbreak that could and should have been prevented.

 

Salmonellosis is a common foodborne infection that comes from more than 2,000 strains of Salmonella and most people recover from salmonellosis on their own. But it is not to be taken lightly and can be deadly in cases involving young children, older adults and people who have weakened immune systems.

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The Rhode Island company linked to a national salami Salmonella outbreak is reporting that samples of black pepper in its inventory have tested positive for Salmonella.

The discovery will trigger additional study by state and federal health inspectors to identify the supplier and determine if other peppered products have contributed to the outbreak. More recalls could be announced soon.

Here's what salami maker Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island, is telling its customers:

Samples of the black pepper used to coat the finished products have tested positive for Salmonella. This indicates that the product was contaminated after processing. We have changed suppliers of our spices, and specifications for spices. We are now using only pasteurized spices.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo has been found in patients and salami. A second strain of Salmonella Seftenberg also has been recovered. As the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy noted, the company doesn't say which strain was found in its pepper.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 189 individuals in 40 states have been infected by the same strain of Salmonella since July 2009. Epidemiological study only recently connected the outbreak to pepper salami made by Daniele. The company has recalled 1.24 million pounds of product and the details of  the recall can be seen by clicking here.

Salmonellosis should not be taken lightly. Salmonella is a human pathogen that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. In rare circumstances, it can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

 National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is accepting cases from this outbreak at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or online via contact form on this Web page. Individuals may call a Salmonella lawyer for answers to legal questions about compensation. This outbreak could have been prevented. Click here to read about a Daniele salami lawsuit

Our firm is one of the few in the nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and our lawyers are considered leaders in this complicated area of law. We have the experience of successfully representing food poisoning victims in practically every major outbreak in the U.S. 

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In the Daniele pepper salami Salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 200 people in 40 states, the largest numbers of cases are found in California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah and New Jersey.

The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo is as follows: AL (2), AZ (5), CA (30), CO (3), CT (4), DE (2), FL (2), GA (3), IA (1), ID (2), IL (11), IN (3), KS (3), LA (1), MA (12), MD (1), ME (1), MI (1), MN (4), MO (1), NC (9), ND (1), NE (1), NH (1), NJ (7), NY (15), OH (9), OK (1), OR (8), PA (3), RI (2), SC (1), SD (3), TN (4), TX (7), UT (7), VA (1), WA (14), 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.

Here is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) map of the outbreak.

People with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Infants, elderly persons and those with weakened immunes systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is recommending that when a patient seeks medical attention, it is important for physicians to order laboratory tests to detect the pathogens. The test results are important, though not vital, in helping victims collect compensation for their injuries, lost time and medical expenses.

If you have questions regarding your legal rights to compensation related to this nationwide outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our contact form on the side of this web page.

Our firm is a leader in foodborne illness litigation and our founder and president, Fred Pritzker, has called on Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island, to immediately pay the medical bills and other direct costs of victims of this outbreak, which could have been prevented.

Prevention of food poisoning is an important part of our mission at Pritzker Olsen. We actively support initiatives to strengthen food safety and our clients have given important testimony in Congress to help pass reforms that are long overdue. Fred is a sought-after speaker by food industry executives who work in the area of food safety.

The CDC has said other food products besides pepper salami and salame sold by Daniele could have contributed to this outbreak. We are closely monitoring the investigation and have heard from several individuals around the country who have been affected by this outbreak.

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Two public health labs have confirmed that pepper salami produced by a Rhode Island company, Daniele Inc., is the cause of a national outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo that has sickened at least 189 people in 40 states.

The confirmations were achieved through DNA fingerprinting by health workers at the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Washington State Department of Public Health.

In Iowa, the molecular subtyping matched the outbreak strain of Salmonella to Salmonella that infected a patient in that state. The sample came from Daniele salami the person had saved in the freezer.

The Iowa sample was from a sliced salami variety pack -- the same as that purchased by at least 13 other ill persons.

The breakthrough was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which continues to say that it is possible another food item caused illnesses in the outbreak, which started last July and was first detected in Oregon and Washington. 

Daniele has stopped production of its salami and salame products and will now irradiate the pepper it uses on the product to kill germs. Some scientists believe pepper was the vehicle for the Salmonella in this case.

The Pascoag, Rhode Island, company recalled 1.23 million pounds of pepper salami, including variety packs containing pepper salami / salame less than 24 hours after the CDC announced the outbreak late last week. Click here to view a complete list of items under recall, including products under the Boar's Head and Dietz & Watson brand.

States hardest hit by the outbreak include California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Oregon. But 32 other states have confirmed cases and it is a certainty that some cases have not yet been reported to public health officials. The outbreak was active through the first week of January, at a minimum.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a national food safety law firm with leading experience; involved as an advocate for victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness.

This outbreak could have been prevented and Daniele Inc. should immediately pay medical costs, lost wages and other associated expenses of individuals sickened by its products. If you have questions about compensation, contact us. We have collected tens of millions for food poisoning victims, including Salmonella patients who have suffered long-term health consequences from their infections.

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The public health investigation into a 7-month-old Salmonella outbreak is widening and could possibly implicate other contaminated food products in addition to salami.

"It is possible that more than one food product may be causing illnesses,'' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Monday in its latest update on the outbreak.

The CDC report said preliminary analysis of a recent study of the outbreak has suggested salami as a possible source of illness. Ill persons (51 percent) were significantly more likely than well persons (15 percent) to report eating salami.

Additionally, 11 ill persons purchased the same type of sliced salami variety pack at different grocery store locations before becoming ill. These data suggest this product may be the source of some of these illnesses, the CDC said. This sliced salami variety pack was recently recalled by Daniele Inc. as part of a 1.23 million-pound recall of products containing pepper salami.

The Daniele salami Salmonella recall came less than 24 hours after the CDC announced the outbreak. According to the latest tally, 187 people in 39 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo. Of 133 victims who provided information, 37 were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

More testing is in the works to look for possible confirmation of the outbreak strain of Salmonella in ingredients at Daniele and in other food products. Private laboratory tests found Salmonella in a retail sample of a Daniele salami product , but the Salmonella didn't match the outbreak strains.

Some scientists believe pepper is the source of the outbreak and there has been a media report saying that Daniele is starting to irradiate the pepper it receives before adding it to meat products. For now, salami product at Daniele of Pascoag, Rhode Island, is on hold. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or completing our contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a national food safety law firm and one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.

Pritzker Olsen has collected millions for victims of food poisoning and we are involved as an advocate for victims in practically every major outbreak.  

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UPDATE March 12, 2010 -- National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen continues to monitor the state and federal investigation into a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak that has sickened 249 people in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The probable cause of the outbreak is peppered salami manufactured by Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island. There is a strong association with black and red pepper used to make the salami.

Anyone affected by this outbreak may call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) for answers to questions about your legal rights to Salmonella compensation. A lawyer will provide a free case consultation and you also can contact the firm by completing the form on the side of the Web page.

Salmonella infection is a serious and sometimes life-threatening matter for young children, older adults and anyone who has a weakened immune system. Salmonellosis is commonly overcome by healthy adults, but should not be taken lightly because it can have long-lasting medical consequences, including Reiter's Syndrome.

Extent of outbreak: The number of illnesses currently considered to be part of this outbreak is 249. Of 187 victims who provided information, 49 have been hospitalized (26%). No one has died. It started in early July 2009 and has spread to 44 states and Washington, D.C.. California, New York, Maine, Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, South Dakota, Utah and North Carolina are leading states.

Investigating Agencies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak. It is working with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, and many state health agencies.

Cause of outbreak: State health laboratories in Iowa and Washington have used DNA fingerprinting to match the outbreak strain of Salmonella to two separate salami samples made by Daniele. In the Iowa case, the patient had kept some salami in the freezer. It came from the same type of Daniele sliced salami variety pack that  had been purchased by 12 other ill persons. RI Department of Health has found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in an open container of black pepper at Daniele's plant. The USDA found Salmonella in a previously unopened sample of salame panino with mozzarella that did not contain black pepper, prompting a recall of these products on February 16. The company believes crushed red pepper is the contaminant in the latest grouping. Testing has confirmed Salmonella in red and black pepper used by the company.

Salami Recall: Less than 24 hours after CDC announced the outbreak, Daniele Inc. announced the recall of 1.24 million pounds of peppered salami products, including variety packs containing peppered salami or salame. Brands involved in the recall include Daniele, Dietz & Watson, Boar's Head and Black Bear of the Black Forest. Recall has been expanded three times to include 17,235 pounds of hot sopressata calabres salami, 115,000 pounds of salame panino with mozzarella and more salami for a total of 1.4 million pounds. Look for USDA Establishment numbers EST 459, EST 54 or EST 9992. See the Food Safety Lawyer for a complete Salmonella salami recall listing.

Where the Salami was sold: FSIS has published a list of retailers nationwide that have handled salami covered under this Class I High Health Risk recall. The list includes large chains including Costco, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Ralph's and Sam's Club. Click here (and scroll down) to see the complete, updated store listing. FDA is warning consumers some product still may be on store shelves and in home freezers or refrigerators.

Salmonella Senftenberg:  A different serotype of Salmonella has been found in food samples from retail and a patient household. Eight people have been infected by the same strain of Senftenberg since July 1.  Two of the six consumed a recalled salami product a week before falling ill. These are related by not included in the overall outbreak count.

Advice to Patients: People with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Infants, elderly persons and those with weakened immunes systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When a patient seeks medical attention, it is important for physicians to order laboratory tests to detect the pathogens.

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Salmonella in Salami has prompted a large recall of pepper-coated salami made by a company in Rhode Island and the recall coincides with the announcement of  a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says in a recall notice today that 1.24 million pounds of  salami made by Danielle Inc. is not currently linked directly to the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 184 people in 38 states, hospitalizing more than 35 of them.

But the FSIS notes specifically that the recalled salami is similar to products bought by customers who later became sick in the Montevideo outbreak. Investigators are still probing and testing.

Meanwhile, a Salmonella expert at the Oregon Public Health Division told the Oregonian newspaper there's a connection between the salami recall and Salmonella outbreak, which was first noticed on the West Coast last July.

Oregon senior epidemiologist William Keene said a lab near Seattle came up with positive tests for Salmonella in the past few days on salami made by Daniele that was purchased at a Costco in Washington state. Washington has more than a dozen cases in the Salmonella outbreak.

Some scientists suspect that it's the pepper on the salami. The particular strain of  Salmonella involved in the outbreak is common and that makes it difficult for investigators to pinpoint the culprit food.

“This is a weird outbreak in a lot of ways because it’s been such a long investigation,” Keene told the Oregonian's Lynne Terry, one of the country's leading health reporters. "We've gone down a lot of dead ends until the puzzle pieces started to fit together." 

The FSIS has not listed retailers yet who carried the recalled salami, but the Oregonian says vendors include Costco, Walmart, Sam's Club, Amazon and more. Most products are under the Daniele brand name, but the recall includes several items with the Boar's Head, Black Bear or Dietz & Watson labels.

All of the recalled products carry a small round USDA mark that says "EST. 54" or "EST. 9992." Daniele products with other USDA establishment numbers are not being recalled. 

If you are a victim of this possible salami Samonella outbreak and have questions about your legal rights, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by completing our contact form on the side of this Web page or by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

We are a national food safety law firm involved in practically every major outbreak of food poisoning. Over the years we have collected millions for victims while also actively supporting many initiatives to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. Salmonella infection in young children, older adults and all people who have weakened immune systems is a serious and sometimes life-threatening matter. Salmonella is often overcome by health adults, but it should not be taken lightly because it is known to cause long-term negative health consequences.

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