Jalapeño recall grows as Chipotle, QDOBA pull peppers over Salmonella

Jalapeño recall overview:

• Who: Coast Citrus Distributors is recalling fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, while Chipotle and QDOBA remove jalapeños from their restaurants.
• Why: The recall follows a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections that has sickened 345 people in 27 states.
• Where: The recalled jalapeños were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants and food service companies nationwide.

A fresh jalapeño recall is underway after federal health officials linked peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, to a multistate Salmonella outbreak. 

The affected jalapeños were imported by Coast Citrus Distributors and distributed to restaurants, food service companies and wholesalers in the United States, including Hannaford, Kroger, Stop and Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Whole Foods.

As of Aug. 5, the outbreak had sickened 345 people across 27 states and resulted in 36 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said illnesses began between June 19 and July 20.

The FDA recommended that Coast Citrus Distributors recall the remaining jalapeños implicated in the outbreak. The distributor agreed to recall the affected products and is working to identify and contact customers who received them.

Chipotle and QDOBA also received jalapeños imported by Coast Citrus Distributors. Both restaurant chains have since stopped serving the affected peppers.

Jalapeño recall states restaurants have stopped serving the contaminated peppers

The FDA’s investigation found that the recalled fresh jalapeños came from a common grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, that supplied Coast Citrus Distributors. 

Coast Citrus has stated it is no longer importing from the grower. Meanwhile, Chipotle said it switched its jalapeño supplier beginning July 20, and QDOBA stopped using the recalled jalapeños on July 28. Neither restaurant chain is serving the recalled peppers.

The outbreak investigation found that 177 of 191 people interviewed, or 93%, reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill. The FDA said reported meal dates ranged from June 14 to July 14.

Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. According to the FDA, symptoms usually develop within 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and generally last four to seven days.

Consumers who believe they developed a Salmonella infection after eating a dish containing jalapeños should contact their health care provider, the FDA said. The agency continues to investigate the outbreak and will update its advisory as more information becomes available.

Coast Citrus Distributors is not currently facing legal action over the jalapeños recall, but Top Class Actions follows recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.

Meanwhile, consumers recently sued Taylor Farms, alleging the company sold lettuce and leafy greens contaminated with Cyclospora that sickened consumers across multiple states during a summer outbreak.

Have you purchased or eaten jalapeños that may be affected by this recall? Let us know in the comments.

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