Investigation Details
Posted March 28, 2024
This outbreak investigation is over. The recalled meats have a long shelf life, so double check your refrigerators for recalled food. Learn what else you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from Salmonella.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) collected different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella I 4:i:- infections.
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data show that charcuterie meat products from Fratelli Beretta made people in this outbreak sick.
Epidemiologic Data
A total of 104 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella were reported from 33 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 20, 2023, to February 10, 2024 (see timeline). Of 92 people with information available, 27 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
Public health officials collected many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provided clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
| Demographics | Information |
|---|---|
| Age (n=104) |
Range from under 1 to 92 years Median age of 48 years |
| Sex (n=104) |
60% male 40% female |
| Race (n=82) |
95% White 2% Asian 1% African American/Black 1% Native American or Alaska Native |
| Ethnicity (n=78) |
88% non-Hispanic 12% Hispanic |
State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 68 people interviewed, 50 (74%) reported eating a variety of charcuterie meats. This percentage was significantly higher than the 40% of respondents who reported eating charcuterie meats in the FoodNet Population Survey—a survey that helps estimate how often people eat various foods linked to diarrheal illness. This comparison suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating charcuterie meats.
Laboratory Data
Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected one unopened package of the twin-pack of Busseto brand charcuterie sampler from a sick person’s home. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the Salmonella in the charcuterie sampler was closely related to bacteria from sick people. This suggests that people got sick from eating the charcuterie sampler.
USDA-FSIS collected Coppa and Antipasto tray products from Fratelli Beretta which tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing showed these were two different strains of Salmonella that were both different from ill people in this outbreak and the Antipasto collected by the Minnesota Department of Health.
WGS analysis of bacteria from 104 people’s samples and four food samples predicted resistance to three or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazole. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice.
Public Health Actions
Since the recalled charcuterie meat products have a six-month shelf life, check your refrigerator for them.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella I 4:i:- infections.
Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that charcuterie meat products from Fratelli Beretta are making people in this outbreak sick.
Epidemiologic Data
Since the last update, 40 more illnesses have been reported. As of February 15, 2024, a total of 87 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 30 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 20, 2023, to January 20, 2024 (see timeline). Of 74 people with information available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
| Demographics | Information |
|---|---|
| Age (n=85) |
Range from under 1 to 92 years Median age of 47 years |
| Sex (n=87) |
60% male 40% female |
| Race (n=66) |
94% White 3% Asian 2% African American/Black 2% Native American or Alaska Native |
| Ethnicity (n=62) |
92% non-Hispanic 8% Hispanic |
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 46 people interviewed, 36 (78%) reported eating a variety of charcuterie meats. Twenty-three people provided specific information or shopper card records and 19 (83%) of them reported brands of charcuterie meats produced by Fratelli Beretta.
Laboratory Data
FSIS collected Coppa products from Fratelli Beretta, which tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing showed it is a different strain of Salmonella from ill people in this outbreak and the Antipasto collected by the Minnesota Department of Health.
WGS analysis of bacteria from 87 people’s samples and one food sample predicted resistance to three or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazole. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice.
Public Health Actions
Fratelli Beretta recalled many brands of charcuterie meat products containing Coppa.
Do not to eat, serve, or sell any recalled products.
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.
Investigators are working to determine if any additional products may be contaminated.
Epidemiologic Data
Since the last update, 23 more illnesses have been reported. As of January 17, 2024, a total of 47 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 22 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 20, 2023, to January 1, 2024 (see timeline). Of 38 people with information available, 10 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
| Demographics | Information |
|---|---|
| Age (n=47) |
Range from 1 to 91 years Median age of 45 years |
| Sex (n=46) |
59% male 41% female |
| Race (n=33) |
97% White 3% Asian |
| Ethnicity (n=32) |
94% non-Hispanic 6% Hispanic |
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 26 people interviewed, 19 (73%) reported eating a variety of charcuterie meats. Ten people provided specific information or shopper card records:
- 4 people bought the Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta from Costco.
- 1 person bought another Fratelli Beretta brand charcuterie product.
- 3 people bought the Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler from Sam’s Club.
- 2 people bought charcuterie meats from Sam’s Club, but did not remember the brand name.
Laboratory Data
Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected one unopened package of the twin-pack of Busseto brand charcuterie sampler from a sick person’s home. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the Salmonella in the charcuterie sampler is closely related to bacteria from sick people. This suggests that people got sick from eating the charcuterie sampler.
WGS analysis of bacteria from 46 people’s samples and 1 food sample predicted resistance to ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazole. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice.
Public Health Actions
Fratelli Beretta recalled a single lot of the Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler because of testing by Minnesota that identified Salmonella in the product.
While the outbreak is ongoing, CDC is advising not to eat, serve, or sell any lot of Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler from Sam’s Club or Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta from Costco.
Sam’s Club and Costco have removed these products from their stores.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella I 4:i:- infections.
Epidemiologic Data
As of January 3, 2024, 24 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 14 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 20, 2023, to December 18, 2023, (see timeline). Of 20 people with information available, 5 have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
| Demographics | Information |
|---|---|
| Age (n=24) |
Range from 16 to 91 years Median age of 50 years |
| Sex (n=24) |
33% female 67% male |
| Race (n=19) |
95% White 0% African American/Black 0% Native American or Alaska Native 5% Asian 0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0% reported more than one race |
| Ethnicity (n=19) |
95% non-Hispanic 5% Hispanic |
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 11 people interviewed, 6 (55%) reported eating a variety of ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products. Among 3 people who remembered the specific product or had shopper card records showing a purchase, 3 had “Busseto Foods Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Soppressata, and Dry Coppa.”
Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
One person from Minnesota reported becoming ill in December after eating one 9-oz. tray of the 18-oz. package of “Busseto Foods Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Sopressata, and Dry Coppa.” On December 27, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected and tested a sample of the unopened 9-oz. tray sample from that ill person’s home. Testing identified Salmonella I 4:I:- in that sample, and WGS is being conducted to determine if the Salmonella in these recalled charcuterie samplers is the same as the outbreak strain.
WGS analysis of bacteria from 23 people’s samples predicted resistance to ampicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazole. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics, and may require a different antibiotic choice.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing to determine which individual component of the sampler may have been the source of contamination and whether similar products are contaminated.
Public Health Actions
Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled products.
