Almost 80 percent of the people sickened in the salami stick Salmonella outbreak are children, with an average age of 7, according to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak linked to Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegmans stores was announced by the CDC on October 23, when 20 people were sick, but the company did not issue a recall until November 10. Thirty-one people are now sick and at least six of them have been hospitalized.
The salami stick recall includes 119,091 pounds of products produced prior to October 25, 2021, and sold nationwide and in Bermuda. The recalled products were sold in 2-oz. packages with “best by” dates through January 23, 2022, located next to the barcode.
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Salami Sticks
Health officials conducted epidemiologic and traceback investigations and identified Citterio Italian-style Salame Sticks as the source of this outbreak. They interviewed 23 patients, all of them said they ate salami sticks before they developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection. All but one of them specifically stated that they had eaten Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks.
Using whole genome sequencing, health officials identifed the genetic fingerprint of the Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- strain that sickened these patients. The cultures from all of the patients had matching fingerprints.
The California Department of Public Health performed tests on two unopened packages of the salami sticks. Both were positive for Salmonella. More tests are underway to determine if the Salmonella strain found in the product matches the outbreak strain.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, which usually develop within six to 72 hours of exposure, include fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody. The number of illnesses reported from each state is: California (12), Illinois (4), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (3), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (2).
Salmonella Lawyers
If you developed a Salmonella infection from contaminated salami sticks and would like a free consultation with an experienced Salmonella lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. Our Salmonella lawyers have represented clients in every major outbreak n the U.S. You can reach our team by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.