Salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños: 431 sick in 32 states
Scout Impact
Fresh jalapeños and foods made with them — salsa, pico de gallo, diced peppers, burritos, stuffed mushrooms — were recalled from major grocers including Kroger, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart and Whole Foods, and most patients reported eating at Mexican-style restaurants. Check your fridge for recalled products with best-by dates through August 16, throw out any fresh jalapeños you can't trace to a source, and see a doctor if you develop fever, diarrhea or cramps after eating jalapeños.
Key Takeaways
- 431 people infected with the outbreak strain across 32 states; 57 hospitalized; no deaths (as of Aug 19, 2026)
- Source traced to fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, imported by Coast Citrus Distributors
- 91% of interviewed patients ate at a Mexican-style restaurant before getting sick, including Chipotle and Qdoba (CDC)
- Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeño products shipped to retail distribution centers in 26 states — best-if-used-by dates through Aug 16, 2026
- Further downstream recalls: Hardie's Fresh Foods (Texas Costco), NatureBest / H-E-B prepared foods (TX, LA), Whole Foods Market
- FDA: do not eat, sell or serve recalled jalapeños or products containing them; discard frozen jalapeños of unknown origin
Summary
FDA, CDC and state partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana linked to fresh jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, imported by Coast Citrus Distributors and sold to distributors, restaurants and food-service companies. As of August 19, 2026: 431 illnesses across 32 states, 57 hospitalizations, no deaths; illness onsets June 19 – August 2. Downstream recalls cover fresh jalapeños and products made with them — Taylor Fresh Foods (retail distribution centers in 26 states; best-if-used-by through August 16, 2026; stores include Hannaford, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe's, Walmart and Whole Foods), Hardie's Fresh Foods (bagged jalapeños at two Texas Costco locations), NatureBest Precut & Produce (NatureBest- and H-E-B-brand pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms and soup mix in Texas and Louisiana, July 3 – August 5) and Whole Foods Market.