Federal health authorities are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana linked to fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and shipped through San Diego-based Coast Citrus Distributors. The strain has sickened 345 people across 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations and no deaths reported so far, according to the FDA report.
Illnesses began between June 19 and July 20, 2026. Coast Citrus has agreed to recall the remaining product still on the market.
Chipotle and QDOBA at the center of the trail
Investigators traced many of the cases back to Mexican-style chain restaurants. Of 191 sickened people interviewed, 177 (93%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before falling ill, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14 to July 14, 2026.
Both chains received jalapeños imported by Coast Citrus. Chipotle switched suppliers for affected stores on July 20, and QDOBA pulled jalapeños from its menus on July 28.
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The CDC and FDA have said that "given their actions to remove product from their stores, CDC and FDA do not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak," as reported by Healio.
What to do with jalapeños at home
Grocery shoppers usually cannot tell where a loose pepper was grown. The FDA's guidance is practical. If you cannot verify the origin, the agency advises working with your supplier to determine the source and discarding the product if it came from Sinaloa, Mexico, via Coast Citrus Distributors.
Distributors, restaurants, and food service companies holding recalled peppers are told to stop selling or serving them and to carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the product touched.
Symptoms to watch for
Salmonella symptoms usually appear within six hours to six days after exposure and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that typically resolve within a week. Young children and older adults face a higher risk of severe illness.
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Anyone who recently ate at a Mexican-style restaurant and has become ill should seek medical care, the FDA says. That is especially important for people whose diarrhea lasts more than a few days, who cannot keep fluids down, or who develop a high fever.
The FDA has said its investigation is ongoing and continues to examine whether the contaminated peppers reached US grocery stores.
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This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.