Expanding Jalapeño Recalls Amid a Salmonella Outbreak

Federal investigators traced the Salmonella contamination to fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and imported by Coast Citrus Distributors. Interviews with ill individuals and a backward-looking supply-chain analysis allowed officials to pinpoint a single grower as the source. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has incorporated this finding into its ongoing advisory.

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The FDA’s advisory lists dozens of recalled items, including soup mixes, pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms, diced jalapeños, guacamole, salsa and other prepared foods. Two companies—NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC (NatureBest-brand and H-E-B-brand) and Whole Foods Market—issued recalls in the past week. Earlier, Taylor Fresh Foods announced a recall in early August. The recalled products were distributed to stores in Texas and Louisiana beginning early July and later reached a nationwide network that includes Albertsons, H-E-B, Hannaford, Kroger, RaceTrac, Randalls, Stop & Shop, Target, Tom Thumb, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wawa and Whole Foods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also issued a separate alert for meat and poultry products made with the same peppers.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 345 people in 27 states have been infected and 36 have been hospitalized, with no deaths recorded. Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hours to six days after ingestion; most healthy adults recover within four to seven days, while children under five, adults over 65 and immunocompromised individuals face higher risk of severe illness. Consumers who possess any recalled items should discard them or return them for a full refund, then clean any surfaces or containers with hot, soapy water. Medical attention is advised for symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, fever above 102 °F, prolonged diarrhea, vomiting that prevents fluid intake, or signs of dehydration.

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The FDA continues to update its advisory as new information emerges, and the CDC maintains a public list of affected products on its website. Both agencies emphasize that the recalled jalapeño peppers, not the restaurants that previously served them, pose the current risk to consumers. Federal officials advise that the earlier removal of peppers from the menus of major Mexican-style chains has eliminated any ongoing threat from those establishments.

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