US health authorities are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeño peppers that has sickened 345 people across 27 states, prompting a product recall affecting restaurants including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said 36 people have been hospitalised, although no deaths have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.
According to the FDA, illnesses were reported between June 19 and July 20.
Salmonella infection can cause diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps, and may lead to severe illness in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Health officials traced the outbreak to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The company has agreed to recall the remaining peppers and is notifying affected customers, the FDA said.
Investigators found that the recalled peppers had been supplied to several restaurant chains, including Chipotle and QDOBA.
Chipotle has since switched to a different jalapeño supplier from July 20, while QDOBA stopped using the affected peppers on July 28 and has removed them from its menu.
The outbreak comes amid increased scrutiny of food safety in the US restaurant industry following a separate cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce.
That earlier investigation connected the outbreak to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and later identified Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico as the source. The investigation has since expanded to 15 US states.
Chipotle, which has previously faced several foodborne illness outbreaks, introduced stricter food safety measures following earlier incidents.
The FDA said Coast Citrus Distributors does not appear to have supplied the recalled jalapeños directly to grocery stores.
The agency also stressed that there is no ongoing risk to consumers from restaurants that previously received the affected peppers, as the contaminated products have already been removed.
Consumers and businesses have been advised not to eat, sell or serve any recalled jalapeño peppers originating from Sinaloa, Mexico.
