Fratelli Beretta Italian-Style Deli Meats Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
The products, sold at Costco, have been recalled
Fratelli Beretta has voluntarily recalled more than 860,000 pounds of uncured antipasto meats because they may be contaminated with salmonella, the Department of Agriculture announced Friday. The products were part of 12-ounce uncured antipasto trays, sold as a two-pack exclusively at Costco stores nationwide.
Earlier last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified this product as a likely cause of at least some of the illnesses in an ongoing salmonella outbreak.
The products, which contain prosciutto, soppressata, Milano salami, and coppa, carry “best by” dates of Aug. 27, 2021, through Feb. 11, 2022, and UPC code 073541305316.
Currently, 36 people have become ill, and 12 of them have been hospitalized. Just over one-third of them reported eating meat from Fratelli Beretta-brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays. Meats sliced at a deli are not involved in this outbreak, the CDC says.
The company is actively and voluntarily cooperating and coordinating with federal, state, and local health authorities, it said in a press release.
On Aug. 24, the CDC announced that two salmonella outbreaks were linked to Italian-style meats, such as salami, prosciutto, coppa, and soppressata, but did not name a brand. As a result, Consumer Reports’ food safety experts advised consumers to not eat any of these meats until more information was available.
Salmonella Symptoms
Summertime can be a prime time for salmonella contamination, Mujahid says, because it’s easier for the bacteria to grow in warmer weather. “And foods left sitting out on platters at a party or cookout can exacerbate the problem,” she adds.
Diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps are the most common symptoms of salmonella, which can occur as soon as 6 hours and up to six days after exposure, according to the CDC. Most people recover without medical intervention.
Call your doctor if you have signs of dehydration—you produce very little urine, your mouth and throat are dry, you feel dizzy when you stand—or if you have diarrhea for more than three days that doesn’t improve, bloody stools, or diarrhea with a fever of 102° F or higher.
People older than 50, children younger than 5, and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk. So is anyone who regularly takes medication to reduce the amount of acid in their stomach. That’s because doing so might also reduce the amount of good bacteria in the gut that would usually otherwise fight off bad bacteria such as salmonella.
The Details
Product recalled: Fratelli Beretta 12-ounce Uncured Antipasto trays sold as a two-pack at Costco with “best by” dates of Aug. 27, 2021 through Feb. 11, 2022 and UPC code 073541305316.
The problem: The meat may be contaminated with salmonella.
The fix: Throw the product away or return it to Costco for a full refund.
How to contact the manufacturer: Consumers with questions can call Fratelli Beretta’s recall hotline at 1-866-918-8738.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated. It was originally published Aug. 24, 2021.
