Salmonella scare: USDA alerts consumers over meat, poultry products containing recalled jalapeños

The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert concerning meat and poultry products containing jalapeños potentially contaminated with Salmonella. This alert resulted from a recall of fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Federal health authorities are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to these peppers.

As of the latest reports, 345 individuals across 27 states have contracted the outbreak strain of Salmonella, leading to 36 hospitalizations and no reported deaths. Symptoms of Salmonella infection typically appear 12-72 hours after exposure, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most individuals recover without treatment, but severe cases may necessitate hospitalization, particularly in young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems.

The outbreak investigation identified a common grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, as the source of the contaminated jalapeños. Coast Citrus Distributors has voluntarily recalled the remaining implicated products and is collaborating with the FDA to notify affected customers. The company has also ceased importing jalapeños from the implicated grower.

Chipotle and QDOBA, both of which had procured jalapeños from Coast Citrus, have stopped using the affected peppers. Chipotle initiated supplier changes starting July 20 and has ceased serving the implicated product at its QDOBA locations since July 28.

The FSIS emphasizes that consumers who purchased products covered by the alert should not consume them, instead disposing of or returning them to the place of purchase. Retailers and food-service businesses are also cautioned against selling or serving the affected products. The full list of affected products is available through the FSIS.

The CDC has advised consumers against eating, serving, or selling the recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa. The agency's investigation remains active, and businesses are urged to clean and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the jalapeños to prevent cross-contamination. No confirmed illnesses have been linked to FSIS-regulated meat and poultry products, although further downstream products may emerge as the recall progresses.