A months-long investigation into the source of salmonella in salami and other ready-to-eat meats has led to a recall of crushed red pepper, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

While the FDA was careful to say in the red pepper recall notice that "it cannot be determined at this time if this product has been related to any illnesses to date," elsewhere on its Web site the agency said that the recall was part of its investigation into tainted meat produced by Daniele International in Rhode Island.

"Based on FDA’s and the state of Rhode Island’s confirmed test results, the supplier of crushed red pepper, Wholesome Spice, Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling 25-pound boxes of crushed red pepper sold from April 6, 2009, to Jan. 20, 2010," the agency states on its Web site. "The FDA continues to investigate and work with Wholesome Spice to determine the source of the crushed red pepper contamination."

Since January 23, Daniele International has issued four recalls for salami and other Italian meats and has compiled a master list of products for easy reference by consumers. The associated salmonella montevideo outbreak has sickened 238 persons from 44 states, 46 of whom have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Part of the concern in this recall is that many of the products have an extended shelf life of up to one year. They were distributed to retail establishments nationwide (check the state-by-state list) and may still be on store shelves or in consumers' refrigerators.

Complicating the investigation has been the fact that the salami contains ingredients regulated by two different federal agencies, both of which are engaged in the probe. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the meat used in the salami and FDA regulates the spices. So far the FDA has collected and analyzed 153 composite pepper samples. Samples from two lots of crushed red pepper tested positive for salmonella.