Salmonella Linked to Jalapeño Peppers Sickens Over 300 Across 27 States

Salmonella Linked to Jalapeño Peppers Sickens Over 300 Across 27 States

As the nation contends with the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak, health officials are now tracking another diarrhea-causing germ linked to jalapeño peppers.

Over 300 people in 27 states have contracted Salmonella, according to public health officials.

The outbreak has now expanded to 27 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 36 people have been hospitalized with the foodborne illness so far.

In an Aug. 5 food safety alert, the CDC identified the outbreak source: fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers and restaurants nationwide.

After Coast Citrus Distributors initiated a recall of its jalapeño peppers, Taylor Farms followed suit, recalling its prepared foods made with the recalled jalapeños, including salsa and guacamole, per the Food and Drug Administration.

The affected products were distributed to Trader Joes, Target and Whole Foods, among other retailers, and some tainted jalapeños were served at fast-casual chains Chipotle and Qdoba, which have since removed them from stores.

RECALL: A federal public health alert issued over the weekend is warning consumers about meat and poultry products containing recalled jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella, and five H-E-B items are included on the list. https://t.co/uB1eRjBG36 pic.twitter.com/tJa1wWadAD

— FOX SA (@KABBFOX29) August 11, 2026

Like Cyclospora, Salmonella exposure can lead to a wider variety of very unpleasant health effects.

Salmonella infection can cause salmonellosis, and FSIS said common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within six hours to six days after eating contaminated food.

The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment, according to FSIS.

The agency said older adults, infants and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe illness, and anyone concerned about illness should contact a health care provider.

FSIS urged consumers who have purchased products included in the alert not to consume them, and said retailers should not serve or sell them. The agency said the products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Taylor Farms, which has previously been linked to the Cyclospora cases, notes that its operations did not produce the jalapeños and that it was merely one of several companies that imported the spicy peppers.

But Jennifer McEntire, founder of food safety consulting firm Food Safety Strategy, drew an important distinction between the two recalls. Taylor Farms did not grow the jalapeños used to make a variety of pepper-based products, including pico de gallo salsa and guacamole, that it has now recalled due to salmonella risks.

By contrast, Taylor Farms’ Mexican operation is known to have produced the lettuce that has caused thousands of cases of cyclosporiasis across the U.S. since May 1.

“The issue with jalapeños is very, very different. The jalapeños came from a separate grower, handled by a different importer that sold them to a number of different entities,” McEntire told CBS News, noting that she views Taylor Farms’ involvement in the jalapeño recall as “an extremely unfortunate coincidence.”

“They happened to receive these jalapeños, so it puts them in the news once again,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Cyclospora outbreak continues. Maine recently joined the list of states experiencing an outbreak.

The Maine CDC and DHHS say as of August 7, there were 27 cases in Maine.

Ten cases involved produce that’s directly connected to the iceberg lettuce recall nationwide.

Maine now meets the criteria for being part of the multi-state outbreak.

The FDA says most people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, with frequent bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms.

There are now more than two dozen cases of cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness that sometimes causes explosive bouts of diarrhea, in Maine.

DETAILS: https://t.co/KXTII2MvQq pic.twitter.com/SFWPbiFrXq

— CBS 13 News (@WGME) August 11, 2026

The two outbreaks may involve different pathogens and suppliers, but they underscore that our current produce supply chain can carry contamination from foreign fields to American grocery shelves and restaurant kitchens. It is important to have food-safety controls at every link in the import, processing, and distribution chain.

Additionally, it is prudent to wash fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking them, including produce you plan to peel, because cutting can transfer surface contamination inward. And don’t forget to keep washed produce separate from raw meat, poultry, seafood, and unclean kitchen surfaces to prevent cross-contamination.

I will simply note that washing can reduce surface germs but cannot guarantee removal of all pathogens, so strong safety practices must be implemented throughout the produce supply chain.

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.