Italian-style meats linked to two salmonella outbreaks

Thirty-six people have been sick in separate outbreaks of salmonella linked to Italian meats such as salami, prosciutto, coppa and soppressata, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. noted Tuesday. These meats are often found in assortments of antipasti and cold cuts. But no specific brand or product has been identified as the culprit, so there is no recall yet.

Salmonella can pose a serious health risk to certain populations, such as the elderly, children and people with weakened immune systems. CR food safety experts say the safest bet is for everyone to stop eating Italian meat until more detailed information becomes available.

So far, residents of 17 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington) have been affected by salmonella. typhimurium or salmonella infantis. Eleven of the 36 were hospitalized. The first illnesses occurred in May.

The agency says the actual number of people sick is likely much higher as many people are recovering and are not being tested. For every confirmed case of salmonella, an estimated 30 more people fell ill, according to the CDC. At the same time, it can take up to four weeks to determine if a person with confirmed salmonella is part of an outbreak.