In August 2021, CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Typhimurium infections.

Epidemiologic data showed that Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays made people sick.

A total of 40 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis (14) or Salmonella Typhimurium (26) were reported from 17 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 9, 2021, to August 16, 2021. Sick people ranged in age from 1 to 91 years, with a median age of 41, and 51% were male. Of 35 people with information available, 12 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Antibiotic resistance testing - Salmonella Typhimurium infections

WGS of bacteria from 26 people's samples predicted resistance to ampicillin for 25 samples and to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline for all samples. Testing of 3 clinical isolates using standard antibiotic susceptibility testing methods by CDC's National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory confirmed these results.

Antibiotic resistance testing - Salmonella Infantis infections

WGS of bacteria from 12 people's samples did not predict any antibiotic resistance. Testing of 2 clinical isolates using standard antibiotic susceptibility testing methods by CDC's Nataional Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory also found no resistance.

On August 27, 2021, USDA-FSIS announced that Fratelli Beretta was recalling one of their Uncured Antipasto products. The trays have the establishment number “EST. 7543B” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.

The outbreak was declared over on October 26, 2021.