At least 431 people across 32 U.S. states have become sick after eating fresh jalapeño peppers contaminated with salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health officials identified jalapeños grown in Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors as the likely source of the outbreak. The recalled peppers were served at Mexican-style restaurants, including Chipotle and Qdoba, which removed jalapeños from their menus earlier this month.
Food Companies Recall Products Containing Jalapeños
Taylor Fresh Foods recalled several salsa and dip products containing the affected jalapeños. The recalled items were sold under brands including Hannaford, Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s and Walmart.
Whole Foods Market also recalled selected salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo and prepared food products containing the peppers across 12 states. The recalled items had best before or use-by dates of August 7, 2026 and August 16, 2026.
So far, 57 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
Salmonella Symptoms and Case Numbers May Rise
Salmonella infections commonly cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever, with symptoms appearing within hours to several days after consuming contaminated food.
The CDC warned that the number of reported illnesses is likely to increase because foodborne illness cases can take three to four weeks to be reported. Additional infections may not yet be included in current totals.
Large Cyclospora Outbreak Also Affects U.S. Consumers
The salmonella outbreak comes as the United States continues dealing with a major increase in cyclosporiasis cases linked largely to contaminated lettuce and fresh produce.
As of Monday, 15,716 cases of cyclosporiasis had been confirmed across 47 states and Washington, D.C., according to the CDC. Nearly 12,000 additional cases remain under investigation.
The parasite causes symptoms including nausea and severe watery diarrhea that can last for weeks. The illness can be treated with antibiotics, although 828 people have been hospitalized and two deaths have been reported in Michigan, the hardest-hit state.
Lettuce Recall Expands Food Safety Concerns
Many cyclosporiasis cases have been connected to iceberg lettuce supplied by a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico. Michigan health officials were among the first to link infections to lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations.
However, Taco Bell represented only a small portion of the products ultimately recalled. According to FDA data, Taylor Farms recalled 236,192 cases of iceberg lettuce and salad mixes, with nearly half distributed to Walmart for its Marketside salad products.
Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, had approximately 5,900 cases recalled, representing less than 2.5% of the total recalled lettuce.
Fresh Produce Safety Remains a Concern
Health officials noted that Taylor Farms lettuce does not explain every cyclosporiasis case. In North Carolina, some infected residents reported eating parsley and cilantro before becoming ill, although no direct link to fresh herbs has been confirmed.
