Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: Daniele Italian salami/salame due to Salmonella contamination

Usually, for the Recall of the Week on this blog, I select a recall that involves a large number of products or one that would be of interest to baby boomers.

However, this week I choose a food recall because a food product I purchased, and may have eaten, was recalled.

I received a letter in the mail indicating that some salami I’d purchased on Jan. 16 from Costco for a party was part of a recall.

Daniele International Inc., with operations in Pascoag and Mapleville, R.I., is recalling approximately 1.2 million pounds of ready-to-eat varieties of Italian sausage products, including salami/salame, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which regulates meat products, announced the recall.

A total of 203 individuals infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo have been reported from 42 states and District of Columbia since July 1, 2009, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Recent test results by the Rhode Island Department of Health showed that an opened container of black pepper used in making some of the recalled products was positive for Salmonella Montevideo.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food products other than meat, is investigating the supply chain of the black pepper used in making the recalled meat products.

The recalled products may still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes including in the freezer. Recalled products shouldn’t be consumed. To find which Daniele products are being recalled, click here.

If you have a recalled product, don’t eat it; return it to the store where you bought it. Or dispose of it in a closed plastic bag and put in a sealed trashcan to prevent people or animals, including wild animals, from eating it.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company's hotline at 888-345-4160 and its PR contact, Levick at 202-973-1335.

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

The most common symptoms of Salmonella infections are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating a recalled product should consult their health care providers. Infants, elderly persons, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.