WASHINGTON – Euro Foods, Freeland, Pa., recalled approximately 119,091 lbs of salame stick products that may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

The Italian-style salame stick items were produced prior to Oct. 25, 2021. The affected products include 2-oz packages containing Citterio “Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks ALL NATURAL” with “best by” dates through Jan. 23, 2022, located next to the barcode.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 4010” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to retail locations nationwide and exported to Bermuda. FSIS had previously issued a public health alert for the salame stick products on Oct. 29, 2021, believing that the snack sticks were no longer in commerce. However, after issuing the alert, FSIS observed product available at one retail location and two Citterio salame stick samples previously collected by the California Department of Public Health have tested positive for Salmonella, the agency said.

“FSIS has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of 31 Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses in 10 states with onset dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2021, through Oct. 18, 2021,” the agency said. “The epidemiologic and traceback investigation identified that ill people consumed Citterio Italian-style Salame Sticks produced by Euro Foods Inc. Two unopened, intact, packages of Citterio Italian-style Salame Sticks collected by the California Department of Public Health as part of the ongoing investigation tested positive for Salmonella.

“Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product samples are related to the outbreak,” the agency said. “FSIS continues to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.”

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Oct. 28, that the snack sticks were sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegman’s and possibly other grocery stores. Most of the case patients are under the age of 18, according to CDC. Six people have been hospitalized.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries or refrigerators. The agency is urging consumers who have purchased these products to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common foodborne pathogen. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. However, older adults, infants and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.