WASHINGTON — Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA have removed jalapeños linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak after U.S. health officials connected the peppers to hundreds of illnesses and announced a recall of the implicated product.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that 345 people across 27 states have been sickened in the outbreak, with 36 hospitalized and no deaths reported. The agency said the illnesses were linked to jalapeño peppers imported from the Mexican state of Sinaloa and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the distributor agreed to recall the affected jalapeños as investigators continued tracing the source of the contamination. According to the CDC, the peppers were supplied to restaurants including Chipotle and QDOBA, but not directly to grocery stores.
Chipotle said it had already replaced the affected jalapeños with product from different growers on July 20 after tracing the ingredient through its supply chain. QDOBA said it removed jalapeños from all of its restaurants on July 28 as a precaution. Federal health officials said there is no ongoing consumer risk associated with either chain because the implicated peppers are no longer being served.
The CDC said illnesses associated with the outbreak occurred between June 19 and July 20. Minnesota and Colorado reported the largest numbers of confirmed cases, while additional infections were identified in 25 other states. The agency urged consumers and food-service operators not to use recalled jalapeños distributed by Coast Citrus and advised anyone with the product to discard it.
The investigation expanded after Minnesota health officials identified a cluster of Salmonella infections among people who had eaten at Chipotle restaurants. State investigators and the FDA traced a common lot of jalapeños supplied to multiple locations, prompting a broader federal traceback investigation into restaurants and distributors.
Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, with severe illness posing greater risks to young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.
The FDA and CDC said the investigation remains active as officials continue to identify additional cases and confirm distribution records. Health authorities said the recall and removal of the implicated peppers are intended to prevent further illnesses while the source investigation continues.
