Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announces that Ritacco’s Market, 84 Oak Street, Westerly, RI is voluntarily recalling all ready-to-eat dry cured sausage products manufactured at the facility because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. These products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution, and there are no known illnesses associated with these products at this time. Consumers may return these items to Ritacco’s market for a refund.
The recall was initiated after a soprosata (sopressata) sample collected by the Rhode Island Department of Health tested positive for Salmonella typhimurium. This sample was collected during an investigation into contamination of pepper with Salmonella. HEALTH has yet to determine the source of the soprosata contamination, and is working with the firm to implement systems to ensure that all products are safe.