Jalapeños linked to a U.S. salmonella outbreak are tracked to a Mexican farm and a distributor

A multistate salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers has been traced back to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, according to federal officials. At least 345 people in 27 states have fallen ill from the outbreak, with the majority of cases in Minnesota and Colorado. No deaths have been reported, but 36 individuals have been hospitalized.

The U.S. Coast Citrus Distributors moved the peppers into the country and have initiated a recall, notifying affected customers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that 177 out of 191 interviewed individuals, or 93%, linked the outbreak to dining at Mexican-style restaurants like Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba between June 14 and July 14.

Both companies have removed jalapeños from their restaurants. The FDA is investigating whether any jalapeños made it to grocery stores and may announce further actions on their recall webpage. Salmonella bacteria cause an estimated 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S., with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps lasting four to seven days.

Young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. Chipotle's stock dropped nearly 10% following the news, and other fast-casual chains have experienced a decline in customer traffic due to broader inflation and recent food safety concerns.