Simon & Luke has filed four more salmonella claims against Daniele International, Inc. on behalf of residents from Florida, Washington, and California. Each of the individuals contracted Salmonella Montevideo after consuming salami / sausage products manufactured by the Rhode Island based company. The claims seek full compensation for the victims’ medical bills, pharmaceutical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
The claims are part of a nationwide Salmonella Montevideo outbreak that sickened 272 individuals in 44 states and District of Columbia since July 1, 2009. The number of ill persons identified in each state are as follows: AK (1), AL (2), AZ (9), CA (32), CO (5), CT (5), DC (1), DE (3), FL (7), GA (3), IA (1), ID (4), IL (28), IN (4), KS (5), LA (2), MA (16), MD (1), ME (1), MI (4), MN (7), MO (3), MS (1), NC (11), ND (1), NE (3), NH (2), NJ (9), NM (2), NY (20), OH (9), OK (1), OR (10), PA (7), RI (2), SC (1), SD (4), TN (5), TX (7), UT (9), VA (1), WA (19), WI (1), WV (1), and WY (2).
lllnesses began between July 4, 2009 and April 28, 2010. Infected individuals range in age from < 1 year old to 93 years old and the median age is 37 years. Fifty-three percent of patients are male. Among the patients with available information, 26% were hospitalized.
Daniele Recalls Contaminated Italian Sausage Products
On January 31, 2010, Daniele recalled approximately 1,240,000 pounds of ready-to-eat varieties of Italian sausage products (including salame/salami) due to salmonella contamination.
On January 31, 2010, Daniele expanded its recall to include more ready-to-eat (RTE) varieties of Italian sausage products, including:
- Packages of “DANIELE HOT SOPRESSATA CALABRESE,” produced on 11/7/09, 12/16/09 and 12/18/09.
- Packages of “DANIELE SOPRESSATA CALABRESE,” produced on 12/16/09 and 12/18/09.
- Packages of “BOAR’S HEAD BRAND HOT SOPRESSATA CALABRESE,” produced on 11/28/09, 12/9/09 and 12/14/09.
These products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide (
PDF – 191 KB).
On February 4, 2010, Daniele recalled two additional salame/salami products:
- 3-ounce packages of “DANIELE NATURALE SALAME COATED WITH COARSE BLACK PEPPER.”
- Approximately 6-pound packages of “DANIELE SALAME GRANDE COATED WITH PORK FAT & PEPPER.”
This announcement added approximately 23,754 pounds to the initial recall. These products can have an extended shelf life of up to one year.
How did the products become contaminated?
State laboratories have been working to find out exactly how the products became contaminated – and it looks like they have found the cause – the red- and black- pepper coating on the salami / sausage.
Since the recall, numerous samples of Daniele pepper-coated salami products taken from the homes of ill patients have tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo. These samples were tested by health departments in Washington, Iowa, and Illinois.
Testing by the Rhode Island Department of Public Health found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in samples of black and red pepper intended for use in the production of Italian-style meats at Daniele International Inc. (click here to read the article).
As a result of the investigation, a number of spice products were recalled by Mincing Overseas Spice Company, Dayton, N.J.; and Wholesome Spice Company, Brooklyn, N.Y. Both supply pepper to Daniele International Inc.
- Products Recalled by Mincing Overseas Spice Company
- Black Pepper Lot 3258 in 50-pound, 25-pound, and 20-pound cartons with Mincing Overseas Spice Company’s name on the outside
- Black Pepper Lot 3309 in 50-pound, 25-pound, and 20-pound cartons with Mincing Overseas Spice Company’s name on the outside.
- Products Recalled by Wholesome Spice Company
- Ground Red Pepper sold to Daniele International Inc.
- Whole Black Pepper sold to Daniele International Inc.
- Crushed Red Pepper sold from April 6, 2009, to Jan. 20, 2010 in 25-pound boxes (Recalled on Feb. 25.)
Both Mincing Overseas Spice Company and Wholesome Spice Company sell products directly to commercial customers, who may have incorporated them into their own products.
To date, two of Mincing Overseas Spice Company’s distributors, Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Inc. and Frontier Natural Products Co-Op, have also announced voluntary recalls of potentially contaminated product.
How common is Salmonella Montevideo?
There are over 2500 different known types - or more accurately – serotypes of salmonella. Three of those serotypes – Typhimurium, Enteriditis, and Newport – account for almost half of all reported illnesses.
Salmonella Montevideo is the 7th most common serotype, accounting for approximately 2% of all salmonella illnesses.
I became sick after eating the recalled products – Do I have a case?
Persons who tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo have been contacted by their county or state health departments and questioned about the foods they ate prior to becoming ill.
If you tested positive for salmonella, and were contacted by your county or state health department and questioned about the consumption of salami and sausage products, then it is highly likely that you are one of persons sickened in this national outbreak. If so, you are entitled to a salmonella settlement – i.e. full compensation for all of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering you endured.
Simon & Luke Can Help
The salmonella lawyers at Simon & Luke have represented over 2000 victims of food poisoning, filing hundreds of salmonella lawsuits and recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We currently represent over 35 families sickened by contaminated pepper, and we are happy to answer your questions free of charge.
Just call us toll-free at 1-888-335-4901 – we are here to help.
