The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a food safety alert concerning a multistate outbreak of Salmonella linked to jalapeños.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 345 people across 27 states have become ill with the same strain of Salmonella now associated with jalapeños. Thirty-six people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Traceback information indicates these jalapeños were sourced from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurants or wholesalers. Coast Citrus Distributors is recalling and notifying its customers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working to determine if recalled jalapeños were distributed to grocery stores and may announce additional recalls on its recalls page.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges consumers to verify the source of jalapeño peppers at their place of purchase. If consumers have recalled jalapeño peppers at home, they should not consume them.
Businesses should neither sell nor serve recalled jalapeño peppers and are advised to wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come into contact with them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s advisory has more information for businesses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most individuals infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria.
The illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the illness may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to severe illness.
For questions about cases in a specific state, please contact the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Food Safety Branch at 808-586-8000.
