The CDC reported on Aug. 5 that 345 people in 27 states have been infected with a Salmonella strain linked to jalapeños supplied by a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed in the U.S. by Coast Citrus Distributors. No deaths have been reported; 36 people have been hospitalized. Major chains including Chipotle and Qdoba removed the implicated peppers and a recall is underway; the FDA is investigating whether the peppers reached grocery stores. The CDC advises discarding any affected jalapeños and seeking medical care if symptoms develop.
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Jalapeños Sickens 345 Across 27 States; 36 Hospitalized, Recall Underway
Jalapeno peppers pictured.
Updated Aug. 5 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that at least 345 people in 27 states have been infected with the same strain of Salmonella that public health investigators linked to jalapeño peppers.
According to the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported no deaths so far, though 36 people have required hospitalization. The investigation remains active as both agencies continue tracing the contamination.
Source and Distribution
CDC and FDA investigators have traced the contaminated jalapeños to peppers grown by a common supplier in Sinaloa, Mexico. The peppers were distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors and were primarily shipped to restaurants and wholesale customers. Coast Citrus Distributors has begun notifying its customers and issued a recall of the affected product.
Restaurants Respond
Major restaurant chains Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba removed the implicated jalapeños from their menus after being notified of the outbreak. The CDC noted that because those companies removed the product from their stores, they are not considered an ongoing risk in this investigation.
What Consumers Should Do
The FDA is working to determine whether the recalled jalapeños were also distributed to grocery stores. If you have jalapeños that may be part of the recalled supply, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed container or return them to the place of purchase if instructed by the retailer or public health officials.
If you develop symptoms after eating jalapeños or other peppers — typically diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps that begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure — seek medical attention, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, very young or have a weakened immune system.
Health Impact and Timeline
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in vulnerable populations. Most healthy people recover without specific treatment, but some cases require hospitalization. The CDC recommends that anyone who becomes ill consult a health care provider and inform them of possible exposure to contaminated produce.
The agencies continue to investigate and will update the public if additional recalls or advisories are needed. For the latest information, check the CDC and FDA recall pages.
Reporter: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY. Contact: [email protected]
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