Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Jalapeño (August 2026)
Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Product
Recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers and restaurants.
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
Distributors, wholesalers, restaurants, and food service companies nationwide. At this time, Coast Citrus Distributors does not appear to supply jalapeños directly to grocery stores.
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.
FDA is working with Coast Citrus Distributors to determine the full distribution of these products. This advisory will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Status
Ongoing
Recommendation
- 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.
- Distributors, restaurants, and food service companies who have fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, imported by Coast Citrus Distributors, on hand should not sell or serve them. If you froze recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, imported by Coast Citrus Distributor, or are unsure of the company you received them from, discard them.
- Carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that the product touched. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra care in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with this product to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Current Update
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.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 345
Hospitalizations: 36
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: July 20, 2026
States with Cases: AL, AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY
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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