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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeno peppers has spread to 27 states, sickening 345 people.
According to the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the outbreak strain has been identified as Salmonella Javiana. Illness onset dates range from June 19 to July 20, 2026. Of the 345 confirmed cases, 36 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Health officials noted that the actual number of illnesses is likely higher, as many people recover without seeking medical care and are never tested for Salmonella.
Traceback investigations show the jalapeno peppers originated in Sinaloa, Mexico, and were distributed in the United States by California-based Coast Citrus Distributors.
The peppers were supplied primarily to restaurants, wholesalers, and food service companies, including the chains Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba.
Of the people interviewed as part of the investigation, most reported eating at Mexican-style restaurants before falling ill.
Coast Citrus Distributors has recalled the affected product and is notifying its customers, according to the CDC.
The FDA has advised businesses to check their inventories for the recalled peppers, avoid selling or serving them, and clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the product may have touched.
Chipotle said it removed jalapeno peppers from its menu as a precaution and switched suppliers at its stores nationwide beginning July 20.
Qdoba said it proactively stopped using jalapeno peppers at all of its restaurants starting July 28. The CDC and FDA said that, given the companies' actions, they do not consider the chains to pose an ongoing risk to consumers in connection with this outbreak.
Minnesota and Colorado account for the largest share of cases, with 110 each, followed by Illinois with 30 and Kansas with 13, according to the source report
The FDA lists the affected states as Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within six hours to six days of exposure, with most recovering without treatment within four to seven days, according to the CDC.
Children younger than five, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness that may require hospitalization.
The investigation by the CDC and FDA remains ongoing.
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