The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert as of Aug. 25 covering a broad range of meat and poultry products containing jalapeño peppers potentially contaminated with Salmonella, with the alert remaining active as investigations continue.
The alert affects products distributed nationally through retail, food service and institutional channels, the USDA’s food safety arm said.
Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, causing an estimated 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The contaminated jalapeño peppers are regulated by the FDA, while the meat and poultry products containing them fall under FSIS jurisdiction, creating a cross-agency food safety response. The alert could expand as additional downstream products containing the contaminated peppers are identified.
FSIS issued the alert rather than a formal recall because the agency has not confirmed that the products have entered commerce in sufficient volume to warrant a mandatory recall action. Public health alerts serve as consumer warnings while investigations continue.
Consumers who have purchased meat or poultry products containing jalapeño peppers are advised to check their refrigerators and freezers against the list of affected products and not consume flagged items, FSIS said. Affected products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
The still-open nature of the alert means additional products may be added as the investigation proceeds. Institutional buyers — including school cafeterias, hospitals and restaurant chains — face particular exposure given the volume of jalapeño-containing products used in food service.
Consumers seeking information about affected products can contact the FSIS meat and poultry hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).