A multistate salmonella outbreak has been linked to jalapeño peppers, with at least 345 people in 27 states reported getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has traced the peppers back to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and a distributor in the US.
Recall and Investigation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Coast Citrus Distributors, the company that imported the jalapeños, has recalled the peppers and is notifying its customers. The CDC has also reported that 177 of the 191 people interviewed in the outbreak investigation had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, from June 14 to July 14.
Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba have both removed jalapeños from their menus, and the CDC has stated that neither establishment is considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak. Salad chain Sweetgreen has also removed jalapeños from its menu, citing customer concerns over the cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce.
Health Risks
Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with young children, retirement-age adults, and people with weakened immune systems at higher risk for more severe illness. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
