Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Jalapeño (August 2026)
CDC declares outbreak over. FDA's outbreak investigation has closed.
Product
Recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers and restaurants are no longer for sale and are past shelf life.
Additional recalls have been initiated by several companies for jalapeños and products made with recalled jalapeños. An overview of recalls related to this outbreak is available on FDA’s Major Product Recalls page. Some of these products have longer shelf lives. Consumers should check their homes and discard recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
Symptoms of Salmonella Infection
Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
Stores affected
Some manufacturers used affected jalapeños to make new products which were distributed to retail stores nationwide. See FDA’s Major Product Recalls page to see a list of where recalled products were distributed or sold.
Status
Ended
Recommendation
- Consumers should check their homes and discard recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers and restaurants are no longer for sale and are past shelf life. Additional recalls have been initiated by several companies for jalapeños and products made with recalled jalapeños. An overview of product recalls related to this outbreak is available on FDA’s Major Product Recalls page. Some of these products have longer shelf lives.
- Consumers should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you think you may have developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating a dish with jalapeños.
Current Update
October 2, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to distributors, restaurants, and food service companies, including Mexican-style restaurants in the U.S.
As of October 2, 2026, CDC has declared that the outbreak is over. A total of 488 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 34 states. There have been 65 hospitalizations and zero deaths reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 16, 2026, to August 26, 2026. Of the 308 people interviewed, 281 (91%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14, 2026, to July 29, 2026.
As part of this investigation, FDA conducted a traceback investigation based on where ill people reported eating during the timeframe of interest. A common grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, that supplies to Coast Citrus Distributors, was identified as the likely source in this outbreak. Coast Citrus Distributors conducted a voluntary recall.
FDA investigators visited a common Mexican distributor identified through traceback and conducted an inspection that included observing operations, reviewing records, and sample collection. At the time of inspection, no jalapeños were available for sampling. FDA collected environmental samples which were all reported as negative for Salmonella. FDA was unable to determine a route or source of contamination for this outbreak. FDA’s outbreak investigation has now ended.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 488
Hospitalizations: 65
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: August 26, 2026
States with Cases: AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Recalled Products
See FDA’s Major Product Recalls page for information about product recalls related to this outbreak.
Previous Update
August 21, 2026
As a result of the recall by Coast Citrus Distributors, downstream recalls are being conducted for recalled jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapeños.
On August 20, 2026, FDA created a Major Product Recalls page that lists additional product recalls by companies that further made or repackaged products with jalapeños recalled by Coast Citrus Distributors. Consumers should review the information on this page and not consume recalled jalapeños or products containing recalled jalapeños. Consumers should follow guidance in each recall about returning recalled products to their place of purchase for a refund.
Restaurants and retailers should not sell or serve recalled jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapeños. Manufacturers who may have used recalled jalapeños to create new products should consider if they need to initiate a recall and contact their FDA recall coordinator.
FDA’s investigation remains ongoing. This advisory will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
August 19, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to distributors, restaurants, and food service companies, including Mexican-style restaurants in the U.S.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 431 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 32 states. There have been 57 hospitalizations and zero deaths reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 19, 2026, to August 2, 2026. Of the 224 people interviewed, 203 (91%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14, 2026, to July 16, 2026.
As a result of Coast Citrus Distributors’ recall of fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, several downstream recalls of jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapeños have been initiated. Consumers should review product recall information and not eat products containing recalled jalapeños. Consumers should follow guidance in each recall about returning recalled products to their place of purchase for a refund.
Distributors, manufacturers, restaurants, and food service companies who received recalled fresh jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, should not sell, serve, or use them to manufacture products. Carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that recalled jalapeños touched. If you cannot tell where your jalapeño peppers came from, you should work with your supplier to determine their source and discard the product if it was jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Manufacturers who may have used recalled jalapenos to create new products should consider if they need to initiate a recall and contact their FDA recall coordinator. Consumers who recently dined at a Mexican-style restaurant and have become ill should seek medical care.
FDA’s investigation remains ongoing. This advisory will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
August 14, 2026
As a result of the recall by Coast Citrus Distributors, downstream recalls are being conducted for recalled jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapeños.
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC is recalling NatureBest-brand and HEB-brand products containing recalled jalapeños that were distributed to stores in Texas and Louisiana between July 3, 2026, and August 5, 2026. Products include pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms, and soup-mix containing recalled jalapeños. See the Recalled Products section for more information. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not consume them but discard the products or return them to the place of purchase.
FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory with new information as it becomes available.
August 13, 2026
As a result of the recall by Coast Citrus Distributors, downstream recalls are being conducted for recalled jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapenos.
On August 12, 2026, Whole Foods Market recalled select salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo, and prepared foods products that contain jalapeños sourced from Coast Citrus Distributors. Whole Foods recalled products were sold online and, in the Produce and Prepared Foods departments in the following states: TX, OK, LA, AR, WI, MI, IL, IN, IA, MO, KY, and OH, with Best Before/By dates of 8/7/2026 – 8/16/2026. See the Recalled Product section for a list of all products. Customers who purchased any of the products should not consume them and can bring a valid receipt to any Whole Foods Market store for a full refund.
FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory with new information as it becomes available.
August 10, 2026
As a result of the recall by Coast Citrus Distributors, downstream recalls are being conducted for recalled jalapeños and products containing recalled jalapenos:
- Taylor Fresh Foods Recall (8/9): Multiple products containing recalled jalapeños. Recalled products were distributed to retail distribution centers in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NH, NY, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VT, WI, WV with a “Best If Used By” date up to and including August 16, 2026. Stores that received recalled products include Hannaford, Kroger, Stop and Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods. Taylor Fresh Foods is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please visit FSIS’s website to view more information about their alert. Consumers can view also view a list of impacted products.
FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory with new information as it becomes available.
August 5, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to distributors, restaurants, and food service companies, including Mexican-style restaurants in the U.S.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 345 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 27 states. There have been 36 hospitalizations and zero deaths reported. Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 19, 2026, to July 20, 2026. Of the 191 people interviewed, 177 (93%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14, 2026, to July 14, 2026.
Chipotle and QDOBA both received product that was imported by Coast Citrus Distributors from Sinaloa, Mexico. Chipotle switched their jalapeño supplier for impacted stores beginning on 7/20/2026 and are no longer serving affected product; QDOBA also ceased the use of jalapeños in their stores on 7/28/2026 and all QDOBA restaurants are no longer serving jalapenos. Given their actions to remove product from their stores, FDA does not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak.
As part of this investigation, FDA conducted a traceback investigation based on where ill people reported eating during the timeframe of interest and a common grower in Sinaloa, Mexico that supplies to Coast Citrus Distributors was identified as the likely source in this outbreak.
As a result, FDA recommended Coast Citrus Distributors conduct a recall to remove product from the market. In cooperation with the FDA, Coast Citrus Distributors has agreed to recall the remaining product implicated in the outbreak through epidemiological and traceback data and is in the process of identifying and contacting affected customers. The firm is no longer importing from the common grower.
Distributors, restaurants, and food service companies who received recalled fresh jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that the product touched. If you cannot tell where your jalapeño peppers came from, you should work with your supplier to determine their source and discard the product if it was jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Consumers who recently dined at a Mexican-style restaurant and have become ill should seek medical care.
FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory with new information as it becomes available.
Who to Contact?
Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction),
visit Industry and Consumer Assistance.
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