Federal health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections tied to jalapeño peppers that were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that by Aug. 4, there were 345 confirmed cases across 27 states. Thirty-six people had been hospitalized, though not all hospitalization information was available for those affected. No deaths have been reported.
The illness started between June 19 and July 20, though the CDC said the number of people affected is likely higher. Many get better without assistance from medical experts.
Public health investigators spoke with 191 people about the food they ate before becoming sick. The vast majority said they had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant, such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, between June 14 and July 14.
Investigators ultimately found 27 illness clusters at Chipotle and QDOBA locations across seven states. In such clusters, two or more unrelated people said they ate at the same restaurant location in the days before they became sick. They reported eating items such as jalapeño peppers, red onion, cilantro, and avocado.
Officials say the data suggests the jalapeños are to blame for the outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traced the peppers back to a single grower located in Sinaloa that provides for Coast Citrus Distributors. The peppers were shipped to distributors, restaurants, and food-service companies.
The CDC said that whole-genome sequencing of bacteria from sick people’s samples supports the conclusion that a single food source is responsible.
Chipotle and QDOBA have stopped serving the affected jalapeño peppers, and both the CDC and FDA said the chains no longer pose an ongoing risk to customers in this outbreak. Coast Citrus Distributors has also agreed to a recall of the peppers tied to the illnesses.
The CDC advises businesses that received the product not to sell or serve the recalled jalapeños while the investigation remains ongoing. Consumers who purchase jalapeños should check with their place of purchase if they are unsure about the source.
Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, or vomiting. They typically appear between six hours and six days after exposure. Those who become infected should contact a health care provider.
The age of people who became sick ranged from under 1 year to 85 years. The median age is around 30. Of those for which demographic information was available, approximately 63 percent were female, and most identified as white and non-Hispanic.