The FDA and the CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections traced to fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Federal, state, and local health officials traced the peppers to wholesalers, food service providers and Mexican-style restaurant chains across the country.
Public health tracking from the CDC shows that the outbreak strain infected 345 people across 27 states, causing 36 hospitalizations and zero reported deaths. Patients reported onset of illness between June 19 and July 20. During patient interviews, 177 out of 191 individuals, or 93%, reported dining at Mexican-style restaurants before falling ill, specifically naming chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA.
According to the FDA, Chipotle switched its jalapeño supplier for affected locations starting July 20. QDOBA removed jalapeños from its menu completely on July 28. Regulators noted that because both chains pulled the product from their supply chains, federal officials do not consider these establishments an ongoing risk to consumers.
Traceback investigations by the FDA identified a single grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, supplying Coast Citrus Distributors as the likely source of contamination. Coast Citrus agreed to the agency’s recommendation to recall all remaining implicated product, began contacting affected clients, and stopped importing from the Sinaloa supplier.
The agency advises distributors, restaurants, and food service operators who received the recalled peppers to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces or equipment that touched the produce. Any establishment uncertain of its jalapeño source should confirm origins with its supplier and immediately discard any peppers traced to Coast Citrus Distributors or the Sinaloa grower.
The FDA continues to investigate the outbreak.
