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U.S. health authorities are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeño peppers that has sickened 345 people across 27 states, prompting a nationwide recall of peppers supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurant chains including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA.
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the outbreak has led to 36 hospitalisations, although no deaths have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.
According to the FDA, the reported illnesses began between June 19 and July 20.
Salmonella infection typically causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. While most people recover without treatment, the illness can be more severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak comes as the U.S. restaurant industry faces growing scrutiny over food safety following a recent cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce.
The CDC and FDA previously traced that outbreak to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants before identifying Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico as the source. On Wednesday, both agencies expanded that investigation to 15 U.S. states.
Chipotle has also faced several foodborne illness outbreaks in previous years, prompting the company to introduce stricter food safety measures across its restaurants.
Jalapeños Traced to Sinaloa
Health officials said the current outbreak has been linked to jalapeño peppers grown by a common supplier in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The FDA said the company has agreed to recall all remaining affected products and is notifying customers who received the peppers.
Investigators identified Chipotle and QDOBA among the restaurant chains that received the imported jalapeños.
In response, Chipotle changed its jalapeño supplier for affected restaurants beginning July 20, while QDOBA stopped using the peppers on July 28 and has removed them from its menu.
Coast Citrus did not immediately comment when contacted by Reuters.
Investor concerns weighed on Chipotle’s shares, which fell more than 8% on Tuesday after the company confirmed it had removed jalapeños from restaurants in Minnesota and other locations supplied with the recalled product.
Despite the recall, the FDA said consumers who recently visited the affected restaurant chains should not be alarmed.
“FDA does not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak,” the agency said in a statement.
The FDA also noted that Coast Citrus does not appear to have supplied the recalled jalapeños directly to grocery stores. However, it advised consumers and businesses not to eat, sell or serve the recalled peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico.
