Chipotle Mexican Grill has removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants after determining the peppers could potentially be tied to a salmonella outbreak public health officials are investigating.
Investigation Underway
The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed that it was investigating a salmonella outbreak tied to several Mexican-style, quick-service restaurants — with jalapeños as the suspected source. Officials identified 110 cases in the state, with Chipotle making up the majority of those where they were able to reach impacted consumers for an interview.
Chipotle maintained that the “health and safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority” — and that it had pulled the jalapeños out of an abundance of caution and “replaced them with product from different growers” in all locations where a previous common lot had been distributed.
The company did not specify where the initial peppers came from but noted that the jalapeños in question were sent across multiple states to several retailers. It was not clear how many restaurants were affected and in which states.
Salmonella Outbreak
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be more severe in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
