Investigation of a 2022 outbreak of salmonellosis in Italy disclosed inappropriate processing hygiene and procedures in the production of porchetta a spiced pork product. Approximately 70 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium were diagnosed but is recognized that with most food-related outbreaks the actual number of patients exceeds the confirmed cases by a factor of ten.
Investigators determined that raw uncooked meat products were intermingled. The infective strain of S. Typhimurium was isolated from implements, wooden chopping boards, work surfaces and even a refrigerator.
The plant was completely decontaminated and workers were re-trained in sanitary food handling including absolute separation of raw and cooked product.