Jalapeños Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Mexican Farm
Federal health officials have traced a multistate salmonella outbreak to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and imported into the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors. At least 345 people across 27 states have been sickened by the Salmonella Javiana strain, with 36 hospitalizations and no deaths reported, according to AP News.
The Outbreak
Most cases are concentrated in Minnesota and Colorado, each reporting approximately 110 illnesses, followed by Illinois with 30 cases and Kansas with 13. Illness onset dates range from June 19 to July 20, 2026, according to the CDC.
Of the 191 people interviewed during the investigation, 177 — or 93% — reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, between June 14 and July 14. The FDA identified a common grower in Sinaloa that supplies Coast Citrus Distributors as the likely source of the contamination.
Restaurant Response
Chipotle removed jalapeños from some restaurants on August 4 after determining the peppers could potentially be tied to the outbreak. The company said it had pulled the peppers out of an abundance of caution and “replaced them with product from different growers” in all locations where a previous common lot had been distributed. Qdoba proactively removed jalapeños from all of its restaurants on August 5.
“Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak,” CDC officials said in a statement.
Carlota Medus, senior epidemiologist supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health’s Foodborne Diseases Unit, said it remains unclear whether the outbreak is contained. “It’s too soon for us to know if the outbreak is ongoing,” she said, noting that contaminated food could still be served elsewhere. Medus also emphasized that “based on all the evidence so far, the food that made people sick was served at other restaurants as well,” as MPR News reported.
Investigation and Recall
Coast Citrus Distributors has issued a recall of the peppers and is notifying customers, which include prominent Mexican food restaurant chains. The company is no longer importing from the common grower in Sinaloa, and the FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños reached grocery stores.
Mexico health officials opened their own investigation and made a field visit on August 6 to a packing plant in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, as Al Jazeera reported.
The FDA initiated its traceback investigation on July 22, and Chipotle switched jalapeño suppliers for impacted stores beginning July 20. Qdoba ceased use of jalapeños on July 28.
Broader Context
Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year, with outbreaks previously tied to cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurized milk, fresh basil, geckos, and pet bearded dragons. Symptoms typically appear within 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover within four to seven days without treatment, though children under 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk of severe illness.
Chipotle has been battered by larger outbreaks in the past — notably between 2015 and 2018, when a string of E. coli, norovirus, and food poisoning illnesses sent sales plunging. The California-based company has since boasted stronger food safety practices. Shares of Chipotle tumbled nearly 10% on Tuesday and have not recovered.
The salmonella outbreak arrives alongside a separate, wider cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce at Taco Bell that has sickened thousands of Americans. Byron Chaves, a food safety expert at Rutgers University, called the two simultaneous outbreaks “coincidental” and very likely a result of increased testing, while also criticizing the CDC’s response as late, noting Minnesota began reporting salmonella cases in early summer, as Telemundo reported.
What to Watch
The FDA continues to investigate whether any contaminated jalapeños reached grocery stores, which could trigger additional recalls. Health officials urge consumers who recently dined at Mexican-style restaurants and developed symptoms to seek medical care. Businesses are advised to check their inventory for recalled jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors and to avoid selling or serving them.
As the investigation continues, the full scope of the outbreak may expand beyond the 27 states currently reporting cases. The CDC and FDA will provide updates as new information becomes available.