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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, has now sickened 431 people across 32 states — up from 345 cases just weeks ago. The CDC reports 57 hospitalizations and no deaths so far. Most patients ate at Mexican-style restaurants like Chipotle or QDOBA before falling ill, and both chains have since pulled the affected peppers.
A growing salmonella javiana outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers has now reached 431 infections across 32 states, up from 345 cases in 27 states reported earlier in August. The CDC confirmed 57 hospitalizations and no deaths as of August 19, with illnesses beginning as early as June 19. The contaminated peppers were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed across the U.S. by Coast Citrus Distributors, which has agreed to issue a recall.
The outbreak has a clear restaurant connection — 91% of interviewed patients reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before getting sick, with Chipotle and QDOBA named most frequently. Chipotle has since switched jalapeño suppliers, while QDOBA stopped serving the ingredient altogether. The FDA does not consider these chains to pose an ongoing risk to consumers.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This outbreak highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in produce supply chains, particularly for imported ingredients distributed widely across food-service networks. With case counts still climbing, public health agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.
