Burrillville company recalls 52,000 pounds of sausage products due to infection concern

Jack Perry, The Providence Journal
·3 min read

A Rhode Island food company is recalling more than 50,000 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products that might have become contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause illness and even death, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Sunday.

Daniele International of Burrillville is recalling about 52,914 pounds of the products after the FSIS, during a routine inspection, found Listeria monocytogenes on surfaces in which the product came into contact, the Department of Agriculture said.

A 6-oz. plastic tray of “Boar’s Head CHARCUTUERIE TRIO” is among the recalled products.
A 6-oz. plastic tray of “Boar’s Head CHARCUTUERIE TRIO” is among the recalled products.

Consumption of contaminated food can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people weakened immune systems, pregnant women and their newborns, the USDA said in a press release. In pregnant women, the infection can cause premature delivery, miscarriages, stillbirths or life-threatening infection of the baby, the USDA said. Older people and people with weakened immune systems can suffer serious, sometimes fatal infections.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There haven't been any confirmed reports of illness from the products, but the USDA is concerned the recalled food could be in some people's refrigerators. If so, the food should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Chris Bowler, CEO of Daniele International, said, "Obviously, we take this recall very seriously and we will be making adjustments to assure this issue doesn't surface again. Everything we do is about providing great food experiences for our charcuterie-loving customers. Providing food that is safe is a critical prerequisite and we employ an extensive food safety staff to make sure of it."

Here's a list of the recalled Daniele International products:

  • 6-oz. plastic tray of “FREDERIK’S by meijer SPANISH STYLE charcuterie sampler tray” with sell by date 4/15/23.

  • 6-oz. plastic tray of “Boar’s Head CHARCUTUERIE TRIO” with sell by dates 4/13/23, 4/14/23, and 4/15/23.

  • 7-oz. plastic tray of “COLAMECO’S PRIMO NATURALE GENOA UNCURED SALAMI” with sell by date 12/23/23.

  • 7-oz. plastic tray of “COLAMECO’S PRIMO NATURALE BLACK PEPPER UNCURED SALAMI” with use by dates 12/22/23, 12/30/23, and 1/17/24.

  • 1-lb. plastic tray of “DEL DUCA SOPRESSATA, COPPA & GENOA SALAMI” with sell by dates 4/13/23 and 4/14/23.

  • 1-lb. plastic tray of “DEL DUCA CALABRESE, PROSCIUTTO & COPPA” with  sell by date 5/6/23.

  • 1-lb. plastic tray of “DEL DUCA GENOA SALAMI, UNCURED PEPPERONI & HARD SALAMI” with use by date 5/4/23.

  • 12-oz. plastic tray of “Gourmet Selection SOPRESSATA, CAPOCOLLO, HARD SALAME” with sell by date 4/14/23.

The products were made from May 23, 2022, through November 25, 2022, and shipped nationwide from December 23, 2022, through January 17, 2023.

The Listeria monocytogenes was found in some conveyor machinery, and the company "took aggressive action to fully sanitize the equipment and additional procedures for future sanitation and testing," Bowler said.

Daniele International has about 550 employees in Rhode Island, which has been the company's manufacturing headquarters since 1978, Bowler said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Listeria concerns cause Daniele International sausage product recall