Two food alerts in the space of a few hours, same bacterium, polar opposite products: on the one hand a seasoned salami, on the other a chickpea sauce that is now in every Italian refrigerator. The Ministry of Health and several supermarket chains have recently announced the recalls of a batch of Salame Pepperino under the Salumi Benvenuti brand and several batches of hummus, sold under the Zorbas, Primia and Conad brands, all due to the possible presence of salmonella.
Why the salami was recalled
The recall began on July 6, prepared by the manufacturing company itself as a precaution. What alerted the controls was the outcome of a laboratory analysis on a sample of the cured meat, which was positive for salmonella: a bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of humans and animals and which, if ingested with contaminated food, can cause disorders ranging from simple gastroenteritis to more severe forms in fragile subjects, with symptoms generally appearing between 6 and 72 hours after consumption.
The product involved
This is Pepperino Salami, sold in variable weight packages, produced and packaged by the Salumi Benvenuti Srl company in the Lucca factory. The recall concerns only one batch, 2602233, but with ten different expiry dates: 29 August and then 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20 September 2026. The packages already present on the refrigerated counters and on the shelves of the stores have been recalled.
@salute.gov.it
Hummus also recalled due to salmonella risk
Salami isn’t the only finished product under the microscope these days. Several supermarkets have published the precautionary recall, on the initiative of the respective manufacturer, of batches of hummus, the chickpea-based dip now commonly used on Italian tables, due to the possible presence of Salmonella spp. Three distinct brands were involved, each reported by its own chain: Zorbas, withdrawn by Pam Panorama and Carrefour, Primia, reported by Tigros, and Conad brand hummus.
The lots to avoid
All products are sold in 200 gram tubs, but the batches involved change depending on the brand. For Zorbas, lot 110601 is affected, expiring on 8 September 2026.
For Primia there are two lots, 160601 (expires 13 September) and 230601 (expires 20 September), while the most extensive recall concerns that of the Conad brand, which concerns five different lots: 90601 and 90602, both expiring on 6 September, then 160601 (13 September), 180601 (15 September) and 230601 (September 20).
What to do if you purchased the product
The above products must absolutely not be consumed, the advice, as always in these cases, is to return them to the point of purchase, which will proceed with the replacement or refund.
Sources: salute.gov.it / Pam Panorama, Carrefour, Coop / Tigros / Conad
