The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert because Euro Food of Freeland, PA, produced ready-to-eat Italian-style salami stick products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The alert is connected to an outbreak linked to Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks sold at Trader Joe’s and other grocery stores.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Saturday announced a multistate outbreak involving 21 Salmonella illnesses in eight states with three hospitalizations. It has not resulted in any deaths.
A recall was not requested because FSIS has not identified a specific contaminated lot or lots, and it is believed that potentially affected products are no longer available to be directly purchased by retail consumers.
The Italian-style salami stick items were produced prior to Oct. 25, 2021.
The following product is subject to the public health alert:
- 2-oz packages containing Citterio “Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks ALL NATURAL” with “best by” dates up to January 23, 2022, located next to the barcode.
The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “EST. 4010” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and exported to Bermuda.
FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
Consumers who have purchased the products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
About Salmonella infections
Food that is contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection, but infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has eaten any of the products listed above and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients need to be hospitalized.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
It is possible for some people to be infected with the bacteria and to not get sick or show any symptoms, but to still be able to spread the infection to others.
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