Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapenos spreads to five new states
A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños has expanded to five additional states as health officials continue to investigate the infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials have reported a surge in cases, with 431 infections and 57 hospitalisations recorded across 32 U.S. states so far.
The latest update, shared by the CDC on Wednesday (19 August), includes 86 new cases, 21 additional hospitalisations and five new states reporting infections.
No deaths have been reported.
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The CDC is urging the public to avoid eating jalapeño peppers or products made with recalled peppers. You can either throw them away or return them.
All surfaces that have come into contact with jalapeños should be washed with hot soapy water.
Affected products include jalapeños as well as products containing the peppers distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
Items affected include pico de gallo salsa, several types of guacamole, burritos, spicy sandwiches and fresh sliced jalapeños.
In a statement, Taylor Farms said a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, has been been identified as the source of the outbreak.
The business added that ‘it is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers’.
“Consumers who have any recalled product should discard it immediately and not consume it. Refunds are available at the location of purchase," it added.
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC has recalled products including soup mix, pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms and diced jalapeños. The affected items have a best by date up to and including 16 August and were distributed in Texas and Louisiana between 3 July and 5 August.
Meanwhile, Whole Foods Market has recalled some of its products, including guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa and condiments. The affected items have best by dates between 7 August and 16 August and were distributed in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
Chipotle removed jalapeños from its menus, as confirmed by a statement shared with FOODbible. "We have a robust ingredient traceability system and, upon learning of a potential salmonella outbreak in the supply chain impacting wholesalers and restaurants, we identified jalapeños from a particular grower in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors as a common ingredient from a common lot, proactively removed them from the restaurants where they had been distributed, and replaced them with product from different growers," said Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer for Chipotle.
Which states have been affected?
The 32 states where illness has been reported are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Salmonella symptoms
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that while some people may not experience any salmonella symptoms (asymptomatic).
However others are likely to experience with headaches, nausea, and vomiting within eight to 72 hours of consuming contaminated food.
Additional symptoms include chills, abdominal cramps, and fever.
Symptoms are understood to disappear within four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, however salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially for infants and young children, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and older adults, who are at a higher risk.
People with weakened immune systems are also at risk.
Greg Harris