Black pepper linked to salmonella scare

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island Department of Health says black pepper used in salami products at Daniele, Inc. in Burrillville may be linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak.

Nearly 200 people have gotten sick nationwide, after eating salami products from the Rhode Island company.

Now DNA tests from Rhode Islanders sickened by salmonella  have matched DNA samples from an open container of black pepper found at Daniele, Inc.

"Because this was an open container where the sample came from, right now it is considered a probable source of the outbreak," says Health Department spokesperson Annemarie Beardsworth.

Now tests are being conducted on closed boxes of pepper, to be sure the salmonella contamination did not come from human hands.

"At that point we will know no human could have contaminated it," explains Beardsworth.  "It's a closed container."

Daniele, Inc. purchased the pepper from a New York distributor.  The company says it has now changed its pepper supplier.

Now health officials are working with Daniele, Inc as well as the CDC and FDA to determine where that distributor bought the contaminated pepper. 

If it's discovered that the pepper is linked to any other foods, they may be added to the existing recall.

Click here for a list of the recalled salami products.