Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Jalapeños Hits 27 States

U.S. health officials are investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers imported from Mexico that has sickened 345 people across 27 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said 36 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The investigation prompted Coast Citrus Distributors to recall affected peppers that had been supplied to restaurants, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA.

According to the FDA, illnesses associated with the outbreak were reported between June 19 and July 20.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. The illness can be more severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Health authorities linked the outbreak to jalapeños grown by a common producer in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors.

The company agreed to recall remaining products and began notifying customers who may have received the affected peppers.

Cases have been identified in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Investigators found that several restaurant chains received shipments of the peppers.

Chipotle switched to a different jalapeño supplier beginning July 20. QDOBA stopped using jalapeños on July 28 and subsequently removed them from its menu.

Coast Citrus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chipotle shares fell more than 8% on Aug. 4 after the company confirmed that jalapeños had been removed from restaurants in Minnesota and other locations that had received the affected product.

“FDA does not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak,” the agency said in a statement.

The FDA said Coast Citrus does not appear to have distributed the affected jalapeños directly to grocery stores. However, consumers and businesses have been advised not to eat, sell or serve recalled peppers originating from Sinaloa.

The Salmonella investigation comes as food safety in the restaurant industry is receiving increased scrutiny.

It follows a separate cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States that was linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants.

Authorities later traced the contaminated lettuce to Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. On Aug. 5, the FDA and CDC expanded that investigation to 15 states.

The current Salmonella investigation remains ongoing as federal health officials continue working to determine the full scope of the outbreak and identify any additional affected products or locations.