Ham Recall as Stark Warning Issued Over Possible Salmonella Contamination

A range of cured meats are being recalled over fears they have been contaminated with salmonella, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced.

Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc., located in Mount Olive, New Jersey, is issuing a recall for about 11,097 pounds of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products due to potential contamination with salmonella, the FSIS advised on Wednesday.

The affected product comes in 18-oz. plastic tray packages with a label that reads: "Busetto Foods Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Sopressata, and Dry Coppa." Affected batches can be identified with the lot code L075330300 and a best before date of April 27, 2024. The label also shows the establishment codes EST. 7543B EST. #47967 which can be found inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The potentially contaminated products were shipped to Sam's Club distribution centers in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas, the government department has said.

Contamination with salmonella was discovered following a test conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as part of what the FSIS describes as a "multistage outbreak" of the foodborne bacterium. The FSIS clarified that investigations are still ongoing.

The FSIS has instructed anyone who has purchased the affected product to either throw it away or return it to the point of purchase.

Consuming food that has been contaminated with salmonella can lead to salmonellosis, one of the most prevalent bacterial foodborne infections. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever emerging within six hours to six days following the consumption of the tainted food, according to the FSIS.

The majority of individuals recover after several days without the need for treatment. Those at higher risk of experiencing severe illness include older adults, infants, and individuals with weakened immune systems. If individuals are concerned about potential illness, the FSIS advises them to reach out to their healthcare provider.

Consumers with questions regarding the cured meats recall can contact the Busseto Recall Hotline at 866-552-4916. They can also contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) with any food safety questions.

Salmonella has recently been linked to a major recall of cantaloupe products across the U.S. following numerous deaths and hospitalizations. Since October, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported several hundred people have been infected after consuming cantaloupe products from a range of different suppliers.

Similarly, in December, Quaker Oats Company recalled granola bars and granola cereals after salmonella was detected in products sold across all 50 states.

Newsweek has contacted Busseto Foods for comment via email.