CDC Expands Warning of Salmonella Infections Linked to Recalled Charcuterie Meats as Cases Increase

Different views of a Bussetto charcuterie sampler with prosciutto, sweet soppressata, and dry copa in a combination of photos provided on Jan. 5, 2024. CDC via AP

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded its warning of salmonella infection linked to recalled charcuterie meats sold across the country amid an increase in cases.

At least 47 people across 22 states have been sickened and 10 people have been hospitalized after eating the Busseto brand and Fratelli Beretta brand meats, the health agency said in a new food safety alert published on Jan. 18.

Officials noted, however, that the true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported.

No deaths have been reported, the agency said.

Still, the nearly 50 reports of sickness amount to nearly double the cases that were reported in the CDC’s last update on Jan. 5 when the agency said there were 24 illnesses and five hospitalizations reported in 14 states tied to the outbreak.

According to the latest CDC health update, the affected individuals were reported in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler and Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta may be making people in this outbreak sick, the CDC said.

Impacted Meats Sold at Sam’s Club, Costco Stores

The meats were sold at Sam’s Club and Costco stores throughout the nation, although both stores have now removed the products from their shelves.

Previously, the CDC had cautioned consumers about one specific lot of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products sampler tray, which included prosciutto, sweet soppressata, and dry coppa and was sold at Sam’s Club stores nationwide, following testing by Minnesota health officials, which identified salmonella in the product.

The recalled item had a lot code of L075330300.

However, the agency is now warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve any of the foods, regardless of the lot code, including the Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta products sold at Costco.

Those products include black pepper-coated dry salami, Italian dry salami, dry coppa, and prosciutto, and were sold at Costco stores nationwide.

Both the Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products sampler and the Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta come in twin packs.

Salmonella Symptoms

Investigators are working to determine if any additional products may be contaminated, the CDC said. In the meantime, consumers are advised to throw the products away.

The agency also urged consumers to wash surfaces and containers that may have touched the affected products using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals. Individuals can contract salmonella in a number of ways, such as by consuming contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching animals that are infected, although salmonella is killed when it is cooked.

Symptoms of salmonella infection typically begin within six hours to six days and can last four to seven days, although some individuals may not display symptoms until several weeks after infection.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, although in some cases it can cause severe disease, particularly in children under the age of 5, infants who are not breastfed, pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older, and those with a weakened immune system.

While most people recover without the need for any specific treatment, antibiotics are typically used in severe cases.

Health officials estimate salmonella causes about 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year.