January 18, 2024
By Highpoint Digest Staff
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.
Additional Epidemiologic Data From the CDC
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
| Demographics | Information |
| Age (n=46) | 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
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.
