Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Jalapeño Peppers: What You Need to Know

The Big Picture

Federal health officials are warning people not to eat certain jalapeño peppers after a multi-state Salmonella outbreak made hundreds of people sick across the United States.

Important Alert: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert on August 5 linking the outbreak to jalapeño peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.

By the Numbers

States With Reported Cases

AL, AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY

Where Did These Peppers Go?

• Primarily distributed to: Restaurants and wholesalers
• Not typically sold directly to: Grocery stores (though FDA is investigating this)
• Major chains that took action: Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba removed the affected peppers from all locations
• Current risk: Neither restaurant is considered an ongoing risk since the peppers have been removed

What Should YOU Do? (Step-by-Step)

If You’re a Consumer

1. Check your source – Ask the store or restaurant where you bought jalapeños if they came from Coast Citrus Distributors/Sinaloa, Mexico
2. Don’t eat recalled peppers – If you have them at home, do not eat them
3. Throw them away OR return them – Toss in the trash or take back to where you bought them

If You Run a Restaurant or Food Business

1. Stop serving/selling the recalled peppers immediately
2. Deep clean everything – Wash and sanitize all surfaces, containers, knives, cutting boards, and equipment that touched the peppers
3. Check with your supplier – Confirm your jalapeño source

What Is Salmonella? (Simple Explanation)

Think of Salmonella as tiny invisible germs that can live on food. When you eat food with these germs, they make a home in your intestines and cause trouble.

Common Symptoms (Usually Start 6 Hours to 6 Days After Exposure)

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Stomach cramps

Recovery Timeline

Who’s at Highest Risk for Serious Illness?

High-Risk Groups:

• Young children (under 5)
• Adults 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems (from conditions like cancer, diabetes, HIV, or certain medications)

Summary

• 345 people across 27 states got sick from Salmonella linked to jalapeño peppers
• The peppers came from Sinaloa, Mexico via Coast Citrus Distributors
• Restaurants and wholesalers got these peppers – not regular grocery stores (yet)
• Chipotle and Qdoba already pulled them from all locations
• Check your peppers, don’t eat recalled ones, and throw them out or return them
• Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and cramps – most recover in a week, but some need hospital care
• Kids, seniors, and immunocompromised people need to be extra careful

FAQ

1. How do I know if MY jalapeños are part of the recall?

Ask the store or restaurant where you bought them. They should know their supplier. If they can’t confirm the peppers aren’t from Coast Citrus Distributors/Sinaloa, Mexico – don’t eat them.

2. I ate jalapeños at Chipotle/Qdoba recently. Should I worry?

No. Both chains removed the affected peppers immediately after learning of the outbreak. The CDC says neither restaurant is an ongoing risk.

3. Can I just wash the peppers and make them safe?

No. Washing doesn’t reliably remove Salmonella. If the peppers are part of the recall, throw them out.

4. What if I already ate recalled peppers but feel fine?

You’re likely okay! Symptoms usually appear within 6 hours to 6 days. If it’s been more than a week with no symptoms, you’re probably in the clear.

5. Will there be more recalls?

Possibly. The FDA is checking if any recalled peppers made it to grocery stores. Additional recalls may happen if contaminated products are found in retail.

Stay safe, check your peppers, and when in doubt – throw it out!