While U.S. authorities are still investigating a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce and continue to follow up on a recent salmonella outbreak related to eggs, a new episode has once again focused attention on the safety of fresh foods. This time, a salmonella outbreak associated with jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, has sickened at least 345 people in 27 states and caused 36 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to authorities, the jalapeños were distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors, a company that has already agreed to withdraw the remaining products from the market and inform its customers. The investigation identified that the jalapeños were sent to restaurants, including Chipotle and QDOBA, as well as other establishments. As a precautionary measure, both chains removed the ingredient from their menus while the investigation continues.
QDOBA reported that it proactively removed jalapeños from all its restaurants “out of caution” and stated that it is cooperating with public health authorities. Chipotle, for its part, had already previously removed jalapeños from the restaurants that received the product and replaced its supplier as of July 20. The FDA indicated that QDOBA stopped using those jalapeños on July 28.
Health authorities noted that, since the implicated products have already been removed from both restaurants, they do not currently consider there to be a risk to consumers who visit those establishments.
According to the CDC, cases are mainly concentrated in Colorado and Minnesota, with 110 people sick in each state. Illinois reports 30 cases and Kansas 13, while infections have also been identified in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The FDA reported that illnesses began between June 19 and July 20, during which time people consumed the contaminated jalapeños.
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In Minnesota, state authorities found a strong link between the cases and Chipotle. Of the people interviewed during the investigation, most indicated having eaten at one of the chain’s restaurants between June 14 and July 14, especially between June 24 and July 2. The rest reported having consumed food at various Mexican food restaurants.
Federal authorities continue working to determine whether the contaminated jalapeños also reached self-service stores. So far, the FDA indicated that there is no evidence that Coast Citrus directly distributed these products to supermarkets, although it recommended that consumers and businesses verify the origin of jalapeños and not consume, sell, or serve those withdrawn from the market originating from Sinaloa.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually appear between eight and 72 hours after exposure and, although most healthy people recover within a few days without treatment, the infection can be more severe in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak occurs at a time of increased attention to food safety in the United States. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce served in Taco Bell restaurants and supplied by Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. That investigation recently expanded to 15 states and has raised renewed concerns about safety in agricultural product supply chains.
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