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Italian-Style Deli Meat Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak

Most victims ate salami, prosciutto, other charcuterie before becoming sick

By:

Aaron Kassraie

Published August 30, 2021

charcuterie board with Italian-style meats

Fascinadora / Getty Images

Over 800,000 pounds of uncured antipasto product have been recalled as a result of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation in to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella linked to Italian-style meats.

Infected people told officials that before getting sick they ate salami, prosciutto, coppa, soppressata or other deli meats commonly found in antipasto or charcuterie assortments.

States With Salmonella Cases:

Arizona
California
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Source: CDC

A total of 36 people in 17 states were infected between May 9 and July 27. The victims have ranged in age from 1 to 91. Although no deaths have been reported, 12 people have been hospitalized.

The actual number of infections is likely higher, the CDC says, because people are not regularly tested for salmonella and many who are infected recover without seeing a doctor. Since it takes up to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak, more victims may be added to the total.

Of the 24 infected people who provided information to investigators, 22 said they ate Italian-style meats before feeling sick. Among the 15 who remembered the specific product, 14 had purchased Fratelli Beretta brand prepacked uncured antipasto trays.

Last year, an outbreak of listeria tied to Italian-style deli meats resulted in one death. A specific type of meat or common supplier was never identified.

Recommendations to consumers

Fratelli Beretta USA Inc., a New Jersey company, recalled approximately 862,000 pounds of meat sold in 24-oz. trays containing two 12-oz packages of “Fratelli Beretta UNCURED ANTIPASTO PROSCIUTTO, SOPPRESSATA, MILANO SALAMI & COPPA” with “best by” dates of Aug. 27, 2021, through Feb. 11, 2022, and UPC code 073541305316. The recalled trays have establishment number “EST.7543B” printed next to the “best by” date. The products were sold nationwide in vacuum-sealed plastic packages.

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Product images for recalled Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc. ready-to-eat meat products

USDA

Symptoms of a salmonella infection

Adults 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for severe salmonella illness. Infections caused by the bacteria lead to about 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, the CDC says. Tainted food is the primary cause of these illnesses.

Those who contract salmonellosis, the intestinal infection caused by the bacteria, typically experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the intestines. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last up to seven days. But in some instances, symptoms appear weeks after infection or symptoms persist for weeks, according to the CDC.

Expiration date and UPC code for recalled Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc. ready-to-eat meat products

USDA

Infections are diagnosed with a lab test. Although most people can recover without an antibiotic, one is recommended for anyone with a severe illness. Antibiotics are also recommended for infected adults older than 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC is concerned the Salmonella typhimurium outbreak strain of the bacteria may be resistant to antibiotics and is conducting more tests.

Call your health care provider if you experience any of these severe symptoms:

Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
Bloody diarrhea
So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, such as not urinating much, feeling dizzy when standing up, or dry mouth and throat

Editor’s note: This article, originally published August 24, 2021, has been updated with the latest information on the Salmonella outbreak.

Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency's Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.