WASHINGTON — A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers imported from Mexico has sickened 345 people across 27 U.S. states, prompting a product recall and the removal of the peppers from restaurant menus as federal health officials continue their investigation.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the outbreak has resulted in 36 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported. Health officials identified jalapeño peppers distributed by California-based Coast Citrus Distributors and grown in the Mexican state of Sinaloa as the likely source of the infections.
According to the FDA, the recalled peppers were supplied to restaurants, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA. The agency said Coast Citrus has initiated a recall of the affected products, while emphasizing that the recalled peppers were not distributed to retail grocery stores.
The CDC said epidemiological and traceback evidence linked the outbreak to the imported jalapeños after investigators interviewed affected patients and traced food distribution records. The agencies said the investigation remains ongoing.
Chipotle said it had already switched to a different jalapeño supplier before the federal announcement and removed the affected peppers from its restaurants out of an abundance of caution. QDOBA said it stopped serving jalapeños beginning July 28 while cooperating with public health authorities. Federal officials said there is no continuing risk associated with those restaurants because the implicated peppers have been removed from service.
Salmonella infection typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, with symptoms usually developing within several days of exposure. While most people recover without treatment, severe illness can occur in young children, older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak follows heightened scrutiny of food safety in the United States after several recent investigations involving fresh produce. Public health officials said consumers do not need to avoid eating at restaurants or purchasing jalapeños generally unless they are covered by the recall, and they urged businesses to discard any recalled products and thoroughly clean surfaces that may have come into contact with them.
The CDC and FDA said they are continuing laboratory testing and traceback efforts to determine whether additional distributors or locations may have received the contaminated peppers. Officials said the case count could change as more illnesses are identified and reported.
