The Spice Barn and C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc. this week joined the recall of products made with pepper purchased from the same supplier used by Rhode Island’s Daniele International Inc.

In the last two months, Daniele Inc. has recalled 1.4 million pounds of its ready-to-eat meats because they became contaminated with Salmonella Montevideo, a strain now responsible for an outbreak that since last July 4 has infected 252 people in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating the supply chain for the imported black and red pepper supplied to Daniele since multiple samples proved to be a genetic match for the outbreak strain.

Daniele used pepper to coat some of its meat products, such as Italian-style salami.

Dayton, NJ-based Mincing Overseas Spice Co., and Brooklyn, NY-based Wholesome Spice supplied pepper to Daniele.  The companies are now conducting their own recalls.

Mincing Overseas is recalling 20, 25, and 50-pound cartons of its black pepper from both lots 3258 and 3309.  Wholesome is recalling the ground red pepper and whole black pepper it sold to Daniele, and the crushed red pepper it sold in 25 pound boxes from April 6, 2009 to Jan. 20, 2010.

Since both Mincing Overseas and Wholesome sell to commercial customers, the contaminated pepper may have gotten into other products in addition to the meats made and sold by Daniele.

Mincing Overseas supplied both Spice Barn and C. H. Guenther & Son with pepper.

The Spice Barn, based in Lewis Center, OH, is recalling, Malabar Peppercorns Lot MTC-3258 in 1 and 5 Pound Bags Distributed between Jan. 26 and Feb. 8.  Ground Black Pepper Lot MO-3258T in 1 and 5 Pound Bags Distributed between: Dec. 8, 2009 and Feb. 8, 2010.

The items were distributed to customers in the following 17 states VT, NY, PA, MA, GA, VA, CA, TX, CO, MO, WA, FL, AL, MI, AZ, AR, WA.

Spice Barn is contacting each customer directly and offering a replacement or refund. Consumers who have purchased these products are asked not to use them and to destroy the product.

Consumers with questions regarding the products listed may call Spice Barn at 1-866-670-9040 8:30 a.m.-2: 30 p.m. M-F (EST) and speak with customer service.

San Antonio-based C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. recalled products with pepper as an ingredient that was purchased from Mincing Overseas.  The products are part of the Sunbird Seasonings, Williams Wings Seasonings, and Williams Gumbo Soup lines.

The recalled products include: Chow Mein, Fried Rice, Stir Fry, Chop Suey, Lemon Chicken, Hot and Spicy Szechwan, and Honey Sesame seasoning mix made under the Sunbird brand.   And soup mix, spicy wings, and Caribbean jerk seasonings made under the Williams label.

All the items are sold nationally through grocery and warehouse stores.

Consumers with questions about the Sunbird and Williams products or who would like a refund or replacement product should keep the unopened package and contact C. H Guenther at 1-800-847-5608.

Previously, two other Mincing Overseas customers announced recalls.

Dutch Valley Food Distributors Inc recalled peppercorns, ground pepper, seasoning, and dip mixes sold by retailers and through the Internet.

The Frontier National Products Co-op recalled a long list of spices it makes under it own label and for Whole Foods Market. Frontier brand spices are sold in many nationally known grocery stores.

In its latest update on the investigation, FDA says it “is in the process of taking a closer look at the handling of spices from farm to table and in the spring of 2009 began work on a spice risk profile.”

“A risk profile is designed to capture the current state of knowledge related to an issue and identify any knowledge gaps,” the FDA update said.  “This particular risk profile focuses on microbiological contaminants and filth issues related to spices.”

The spice industry has agreed to provide data to FDA for the risk profile. The risk profile will provide vital information to risk management decision-makers and will help the agency determine the best way to mitigate foodborne illness issues associated with spices.

Specifically, it can help FDA determine:  how to allocate resources, whether guidance for industry or for FDA inspectors is appropriate, or even the need for new rulemaking, the agency said.