Federal officials just widened a salmonella outbreak investigation.
The USDA issued a public health alert Saturday. Specifically, it covers meat and poultry products containing jalapeños that may carry salmonella contamination.
So here’s what’s recalled, how big the outbreak already is, and what you should do if you have any of these products at home.
How Big Is This Outbreak?
At least 345 people across 27 states have gotten sick. In addition, officials confirmed 36 hospitalizations. So far, no deaths.
Minnesota got hit hardest. In fact, the state has at least 110 confirmed cases on its own.
Meanwhile, illnesses started between June 19 and July 20, according to CDC data. The outbreak strain is Salmonella Javiana.
Where Did the Contamination Start?
Investigators traced the outbreak back to fresh jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico. From there, Coast Citrus Distributors imported and distributed the peppers. As a result, they reached restaurants, food service companies, and other distributors across the country.
The FDA also found something striking. 93% of interviewed patients ate at a Mexican-style restaurant before getting sick. That group, for example, included major chains Chipotle and Qdoba.
Both chains reacted fast. First, Chipotle pulled jalapeños from affected restaurants on July 20. Then, Qdoba stopped serving jalapeños entirely on July 28. Because both chains already removed the product, the FDA says neither poses an ongoing risk now.
What’s Now Being Recalled?
However, the outbreak didn’t stay contained to restaurants. Instead, it spread to grocery store products too.
So, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) named 18 specific meat and poultry products. All of them contain the recalled jalapeños.
Notably, fourteen of those products came from four different Taylor Farms plants. Other brands on the list include:
- Ready Meals
- Meal Simple
- Higher Harvest
- Deli Kitchen
- Walmart’s Marketside brand
- H-E-B brand
As a result, these products reached stores across at least 23 states, including:
- Kroger
- Dillons
- H-E-B
- Walmart
- Albertsons
- Randalls
- Tom Thumb
- Hannaford
- RaceTrac
- Wawa
All affected products carry use-by dates through August 16.
On top of that, Albertsons issued its own voluntary recall. Four items with jalapeños made the list, including salsa and corn salad supplied by Taylor Farms.
Overall, FSIS expects more products to join this list as the investigation continues.
What Should You Do Right Now?
First, check your fridge and freezer against the full FSIS product list. It includes exact product names, establishment numbers, and states of distribution.
Found a match? Throw it out or return it. Either way, don’t taste-test food to check if it’s spoiled, since salmonella contamination doesn’t always change how food looks, smells, or tastes.
Next, clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that may have touched the recalled product. This step helps avoid cross-contamination.
Also, watch for symptoms. Typically, diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps show up 6 hours to 6 days after eating contaminated food.
Above all, call your doctor right away if symptoms show up after eating any of the recalled items.
Got questions about a specific product? You can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854, or email [email protected].
Similarly, food safety keeps making headlines this summer. For example, our recent coverage of the Louisiana Vibrio vulnificus outbreak breaks down another bacteria worth watching closely right now.
Bottom Line
This outbreak already stretches across 27 states, and it keeps growing. So far, it’s reached grocery store shelves through 18 recalled meat and poultry products.
So, did you buy anything from Taylor Farms, Marketside, or the other brands listed above recently? If so, it’s worth checking your fridge today.
For more food safety updates, check out [our latest health coverage] on the site.
This article will be updated as FSIS adds more recalled products to the list.
