CDC says US salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeno peppers from Mexico
Al Jazeera
β’Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:47:13 +0000
π° What Happened
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a multistate salmonella outbreak has been traced to jalapeno peppers from a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, shipped into the US by Coast Citrus Distributors. At least 345 people across 27 states have fallen ill, 36 have been hospitalised, and no deaths have been recorded, with most cases in Minnesota and Colorado. The peppers were recalled, and chains including Chipotle and Qdoba removed jalapenos from some locations.
π The Backstory
Salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million infections in the US each year through sources such as cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurised milk and fresh basil. The CDC identified the source after investigating a cluster of illnesses and linking them to contaminated jalapenos distributed to restaurant chains and retailers.
π― Why It Matters
The outbreak shows how a single contaminated produce source can sicken hundreds of people across dozens of states, and it tests the responsiveness of major restaurant chains. It also highlights the food-safety exposure of the US supply chain to imported produce from Mexico.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a multistate salmonella outbreak has been traced to jalapeno peppers from a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, shipped into the US by Coast Citrus Distributors. At least 345 people across 27 states have fallen ill, 36 have been hospitalised, and no deaths have been recorded, with most cases in Minnesota and Colorado. The peppers were recalled, and chains including Chipotle and Qdoba removed jalapenos from some locations.
Salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million infections in the US each year through sources such as cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurised milk and fresh basil. The CDC identified the source after investigating a cluster of illnesses and linking them to contaminated jalapenos distributed to restaurant chains and retailers.
The outbreak shows how a single contaminated produce source can sicken hundreds of people across dozens of states, and it tests the responsiveness of major restaurant chains. It also highlights the food-safety exposure of the US supply chain to imported produce from Mexico.