Federal officials have confirmed that a multistate salmonella outbreak, sickening hundreds across the U.S., has been traced to jalapeño peppers from a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico.
At least 345 people in 27 states have fallen ill from the salmonella strain, predominantly in Minnesota and Colorado. No deaths have been reported, but 36 individuals required hospitalization.
Coast Citrus Distributors, identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the importer, has recalled the peppers and is notifying customers, including prominent Mexican food chains. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that 93 percent of interviewed patients – 177 out of 191 – reported eating at Mexican-style restaurants, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, between June 14 and July 14.
Chipotle Mexican Grill said Tuesday that it had removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants. Qdoba on Wednesday said the company had proactively removed jalapeños from all of its restaurants.
“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.
The FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños went to grocery stores. The agency may announce additional actions on its recalls webpage, health officials said.
Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year, and outbreaks have been tied to sources such as cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurized milk, fresh basil, geckos and pet bearded dragons.
Within hours or days of being exposed to the bacteria, infected people can suffer from diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
Young children, retirement-age adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe illness, according to the CDC.
Shares of Chipotle, based in Newport Beach, California, tumbled nearly 10 percent on Tuesday and have not recovered. A number of fast-casual chains like Chipotle have seen less foot traffic from middle- and lower-income customers due to broader inflation in the U.S., and recent headlines about foodborne illnesses may be another negative.
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