The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert for a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers, with Whole Foods Market announcing a corresponding product recall on Aug. 12.
Whole Foods recalled select salsas, guacamoles, pico de gallo and other prepared foods containing jalapeño peppers due to potential contamination, according to the FDA. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service separately issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing jalapeños regulated by FDA.
FSIS said more downstream products are expected to be identified as the investigation continues. FDA had previously issued recalls of jalapeño-containing products earlier in the outbreak cycle.
The outbreak spans multiple states, though specific case counts and hospitalization figures were not detailed in the available agency releases. Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, with symptoms typically beginning six hours to six days after exposure. The illness can be severe or fatal in young children, elderly adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Consumers who have purchased prepared foods containing jalapeño peppers from Whole Foods or other retailers should check recall notices and discard any affected products, health officials said.
The multiagency response reflects the complexity of modern food safety investigations, in which a single contaminated ingredient can cascade through multiple product categories and retail chains. Jalapeño peppers are used in thousands of prepared food products sold across the country.
CDC, FDA and FSIS continue to investigate the source of the contamination and advise consumers to monitor their respective websites for updated information.