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Salmonella Alert: Jalapeños at Chipotle, Qdoba Spread to 27 States
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Jalapeños: What You Need to Know
What Happened?
Federal health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak connected to jalapeño peppers. So far, 345 people across 27 states have gotten sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared this update on Wednesday.
Important Point: This outbreak is separate from another large foodborne illness outbreak happening at the same time (more on that later).
Where Did the Jalapeños Come From?
The contaminated jalapeños were:
- Supplied by: Coast Citrus Distributors (based in California)
- Sourced from: Mexico
- Served at: Chipotle, Qdoba, and other Mexican-style restaurants
Which States Are Affected?
The outbreak has reached 27 states. Minnesota and Colorado have the most cases by far.
| State | Cases |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 110 |
| Colorado | 110 |
| Illinois | 30 |
| Kansas | 13 |
| Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming | Remaining cases |
How Many People Got Sick?
- 345 total confirmed illnesses
- 36 people hospitalized
- 0 deaths reported
What Are the Restaurants Doing?
Both major chains acted quickly once the link was identified:
- Chipotle (Tuesday): Removed jalapeños from its menu "out of an abundance of caution"
- Qdoba (Wednesday): "Proactively removed jalapeños from all our restaurants"
Important Point: The CDC says there is no ongoing risk at either restaurant because the jalapeños have been removed from menus.
What About the Supplier?
Coast Citrus Distributors has agreed to issue a recall of the affected jalapeños, according to the CDC.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also investigating and working to determine whether these jalapeños were sold to grocery stores as well.
What Is Salmonella? (Simple Explanation)
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can make you sick if you eat food contaminated with it. It’s one of the most common causes of food poisoning.
Common Symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
How it happens: Usually from eating raw or undercooked produce (like fresh peppers) that has the bacteria on it.
Another Outbreak at the Same Time
While this salmonella outbreak was happening, another completely different outbreak was spreading:
| Detail | Cyclosporiasis Outbreak |
|---|---|
| Cause | A parasite called Cyclospora |
| Linked to | Lettuce served at Taco Bell |
| Supplier | Taylor Farms |
| Source | Central Mexico |
| Illnesses | 22,000+ confirmed or suspected |
| Hospitalizations | 517 |
Expert Take: Dr. Byron Chaves, a food safety expert at Rutgers University, calls the two outbreaks "coincidental" — likely just a result of increased testing catching more cases.
What Do Experts Say About the Response?
Dr. Chaves also criticized the timing of the CDC’s response:
"Why is the response so broken?" — Dr. Byron Chaves
He notes that Minnesota started reporting salmonella cases earlier in the summer, but the national response came later.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 345 people sick in 27 states from salmonella in jalapeños
- Source: Coast Citrus Distributors → Mexico → Chipotle, Qdoba, others
- No deaths, 36 hospitalized
- Jalapeños removed from restaurant menus — no current risk there
- Recall underway by supplier
- Separate huge outbreak (cyclospora) linked to Taco Bell lettuce
- Experts question why national response took so long
Summary
A salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños from Mexico has sickened 345 people across 27 states, with Minnesota and Colorado hit hardest. The peppers came through Coast Citrus Distributors and were served at Chipotle, Qdoba, and other restaurants. Both chains have removed jalapeños from menus, and the CDC says there’s no ongoing risk at those locations. A recall is in progress. At the same time, a separate, much larger outbreak (cyclosporiasis) linked to Taco Bell lettuce has affected over 22,000 people. Experts say the two outbreaks are coincidental but question why the national response to the salmonella outbreak was delayed.
FAQ
1. Can I still eat at Chipotle or Qdoba?
Yes. The CDC confirms there is no ongoing risk at these restaurants because they removed the contaminated jalapeños from their menus.
2. How do I know if I have salmonella?
Common signs are diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. If you ate jalapeños at a Mexican-style restaurant recently and have these symptoms, contact your doctor.
3. Were the jalapeños sold in grocery stores?
The FDA is still investigating whether the contaminated jalapeños went to grocery stores. No grocery store recall has been announced yet.
4. Is this related to the Taco Bell lettuce outbreak?
No. They are two completely separate outbreaks caused by different germs (salmonella bacteria vs. cyclospora parasite) in different foods (jalapeños vs. lettuce).
5. What should I do if I have jalapeños at home?
If you bought jalapeños recently and aren’t sure where they came from, when in doubt, throw them out. Cooking peppers thoroughly can kill salmonella, but it’s safer not to risk it.
