Federal and state food safety officials continue to investigate an outbreak of salmonella montevideo that has sickened 230 people in at least 44 states and that resulted in the recall of salami and other meats by a Rhode Island company. The recall, which was announced on January 23 and expanded on February 4 and again yesterday, includes more than 1.3 million pounds of salami and other ready-to-eat Italian sausage products made by Daniele International.

Pepper is suspected as the contaminating agent, according to the Food and Drug Administration, but the source has been difficult to pinpoint. Recent samples of black pepper collected at Daniele International by the Rhode Island Department of Health have tested positive for salmonella. One sample from an open container matched the outbreak strain.

The FDA reported that it is investigating the supply chain of the black pepper used in manufacturing the meat products. So far it has collected and analyzed nearly 70 domestic and imported black pepper samples but all have tested negative for the outbreak strain of salmonella. Now, the investigators are looking at crushed red pepper as well, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Because the recalled meat products have an extended shelf life of up to one year, the FDA cautions that they may still be in grocery stores and in consumers’ homes, including the freezer. Consumers are advised to read the recall notice on the USDA-FSIS Web site for a list of the recalled products to make sure they do not have any of them in their homes. If so, they should throw the products away immediately.

The FSIS continues to add to a state-by-state list of retailers that sold the meats. An update on the multistate outbreak is featured on the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.