A Salmonella outbreak tied to imported jalapeños has sickened 345 people across 27 states, including Texas, according to federal health officials.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement warning consumers, retailers, and food service operators not to eat, serve, or sell recalled fresh jalapeños that were sourced in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed nationwide by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said illnesses were recorded between June 19 and July 20, with Colorado and Minnesota accounting for the largest share of cases. Thirty-six people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Investigators interviewed 191 people who contracted Salmonella, and 177 of them, or 93%, said they had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant between June 14 and July 14 before falling ill, according to the FDA. Chipotle and Qdoba were among the restaurants named by those who were interviewed.
The FDA said it does not consider eating at Chipotle or Qdoba to be a risk to customers. Chipotle changed its jalapeño supplier on July 20, more than two weeks before the agency’s announcement, the FDA said. Qdoba removed the peppers on July 28 and is not currently serving jalapeños.
The FDA traced the outbreak to jalapeños that Coast Citrus Distributors imported from Sinaloa, Mexico. The agency recommended a recall, and the company agreed. Coast Citrus is working to identify and contact all customers who may have received the peppers.
Distributors, restaurants, and food service companies that received the recalled jalapeños should clean and sanitize any surface or container that came into contact with the product, the FDA said. Businesses that are unsure of the source of their jalapeños should contact their supplier to determine whether the peppers came from Sinaloa and were distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps and usually occur within 12 to 72 hours after eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Infections may be more severe in children under age 5, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA is advising anyone who becomes ill after eating at a Mexican-style restaurant to seek medical care.
Provided by Dallas Express
