Jalapeños linked to a US salmonella outbreak are tracked to a Mexican
farm and a distributor
[August 07, 2026]
By MIKE STOBBE
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalapeño peppers linked to a multistate salmonella
outbreak have been traced back to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, federal
officials say.
At least 345 people in 27 states have been reported getting sick from
the salmonella strain linked to the jalapeños. Most have been in
Minnesota and Colorado. No deaths have been reported, but officials say
36 people have been hospitalized.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the
chili peppers were moved into the U.S. by Coast Citrus Distributors. The
company has recalled the peppers and is notifying its customers, which
include some prominent Mexican food restaurant chains, officials said.
Coast Citrus Distributors didn't immediately respond to a Thursday
voicemail seeking comment.
The Food and Drug Administration said that of the 191 people interviewed
in the outbreak investigation, 177 — or 93% — reported eating at a
Mexican-style restaurant, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba,
from June 14 to 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 jalapenos 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.
Salad chain Sweetgreen said Thursday it also removed jalapeños from its
menu, where they are an ingredient in two of its 15 dressings. It was
more bad news for Sweetgreen, which also saw sales plummet in July
because of customer concerns over the cyclospora outbreak linked to
iceberg lettuce. Sweetgreen doesn't serve iceberg lettuce but said
Thursday that customers are generally concerned about fresh produce.
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The Chipotle logo is displayed at a store, Aug. 13, 2025, in
Newton, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
 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.
Health officials in Mexico said they opened an investigation and
made a field visit Thursday to a packing plant in the northern state
of Nuevo Leon.
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% on Tuesday and have not recovered. Sweetgreen shares
dropped 14% in after-hours trading Thursday.
___
Associated Press reporter Fabiola Sanchez in Mexico City contributed
to this story.
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