Jalapeño Salmonella Outbreak Remains Active: What Consumers Need to KnowUpdated September 17, 2026
A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico remains under active federal investigation.
The latest published federal case count has not changed since August 19: 431 illnesses across 32 states, 57 hospitalizations and no reported deaths.
What has not changed is just as important: the FDA continues to classify the investigation as active and ongoing, and the agency says it is still working with companies farther down the supply chain to determine whether additional recalls are necessary.
Quick Facts
Pathogen: Salmonella Javiana
Linked food: Jalapeño peppers
Origin: Sinaloa, Mexico
Distributor: Coast Citrus Distributors
Latest published case count: 431
Hospitalizations: 57
States reporting cases: 32
Deaths: 0
Latest reported illness onset: August 2, 2026
Federal investigation status: Active/Ongoing
The Recall Reached Far Beyond Fresh Jalapeños
This investigation is important because the recalled peppers did not remain identifiable as loose jalapeños.
They were used as ingredients in finished foods.
CDC says recalled peppers were used in foods including:
guacamole
pico de gallo
salsa
burritos and bowls
sandwiches
salads
soup mix
stuffed mushrooms
condiments
That means consumers may have purchased a recalled product without ever buying a package labeled simply “jalapeños.”
Where Were Products Sold?
Federal recall notices identify affected products distributed through or associated with retailers including Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, H-E-B, Hannaford and Stop & Shop.
Salata recalled its Jalapeño Avocado Dressing.
Hardie’s Fresh Foods also recalled repackaged jalapeños distributed to two Costco locations in Texas: Stafford and Dallas.
Whole Foods recalled select guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, dips and other prepared foods containing affected jalapeños.
The Whole Foods products were sold online and in Produce and Prepared Foods departments in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio.
What About Chipotle and QDOBA?
Both restaurant chains received jalapeños imported through Coast Citrus Distributors.
Chipotle began changing suppliers at affected stores on July 20, and QDOBA stopped using the affected peppers on July 28.
The FDA says that because those products were removed, it does not consider Chipotle or QDOBA to represent a current ongoing risk from the recalled jalapeños.
Why Is the Investigation Still Open?
The supply chain is the difficult part of this story.
Fresh produce can move from growers to distributors, manufacturers, restaurants and food-service companies, and then become an ingredient in other foods.
FDA says it is continuing to work with Coast Citrus Distributors and downstream recipients to determine the full distribution of the recalled peppers and whether additional recalls are necessary.
As of September 17, the FDA's outbreak investigation table still lists this investigation as Active, with the outbreak itself marked Ongoing.
What Consumers Should Do
Do not eat recalled jalapeños or foods made with recalled jalapeños.
Check refrigerators and freezers. Some affected products have passed their original Best By dates, but a product that was frozen may still be in a home freezer.
Return recalled products according to the recall instructions or discard them.
Wash and sanitize surfaces, containers and utensils that may have contacted recalled food.
Watch for Salmonella Symptoms
Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting can also occur.
CDC says symptoms generally begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection, and most people recover within four to seven days.
Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness.
Contact a healthcare provider promptly for severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, diarrhea with a fever above 102°F, diarrhea lasting more than two days without improvement, repeated vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration.
Maria Approved It Bottom Line
This outbreak should not be reduced to one store or one recalled container of guacamole.
The consumer-protection issue is the supply chain.
One recalled ingredient was used in multiple finished foods and moved through numerous retailers, restaurants and food-service businesses.
The federal case count has not increased in the latest published report, but the investigation has not been declared over.
Until FDA and CDC close the investigation, consumers should continue checking official recall information and avoid any recalled product still in their homes.
Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA Major Product Recalls database.
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