Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños sickens 431 across 32 states

A salmonella outbreak associated with fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, has been confirmed in 431 people and 57 hospitalizations across 32 U.S. states, according to federal health officials. The case count rose by 86 illnesses, 21 hospitalizations and five states since earlier reports listed 345 cases in 27 states. No deaths have been reported.

Investigators said the outbreak is likely larger than the confirmed numbers because mild cases often go unreported and testing can lag. Interviews with 224 patients showed that 91% had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant before falling ill, and 28 clusters have been identified in eight states.

The Food and Drug Administration linked the contaminated jalapeños to Coast Citrus Distributors, which imported the peppers from the Sinaloa grower. Major restaurant chains Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba received the affected product. Chipotle began switching suppliers on July 20 and stopped serving the jalapeños, while Qdoba halted use of the peppers on July 28. The FDA said these actions remove the current outbreak risk for consumers at those establishments.

The contamination has also triggered a series of recalls of prepared foods and ready-to-eat products containing the jalapeños. NatureBest voluntarily recalled certain pico de gallo, soup mix, stuffed mushrooms and diced jalapeños sold in Texas and Louisiana. Additional recalls involve products from Taylor Fresh Foods, Whole Foods and Hardie’s Fresh Foods, as well as meat and poultry items sold by major retailers. Coast Citrus Distributors agreed to recall remaining product and cease importing jalapeños from the implicated grower.

Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, with symptoms appearing six hours to six days after exposure. Most individuals recover within a week without treatment.