- 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.
January 05, 2024
By Highpoint Digest Staff
Washington, DC, (Highpoint Digest) – The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and public health officials in multiple states have launched an investigation on the severity of possible salmonella outbreak
On January 03, 2024, Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc. based in Mount Olive, NJ announced a voluntary recall of approximately 11,097 pounds of an imported brand of Busseto Foods Ready-to-Eat Charcuterie meat products. The investigation and updates are ongoing.
The latest Salmonella infection data is listed below.
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.
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.
