(L) Jalapeno peppers sit on a counter top July 22, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images) / (R-top) A Qdoba Mexican Eats in Gillette, Wyoming. (R-bottom) Employees prepare food at the US-based Tex-Mex fast food chain Chipotle on July 16, 2026. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
12:30 PM – Thursday, August 6, 2026

A multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to imported jalapeño peppers has expanded across 27 U.S. states, sickening at least 345 people and leading to 36 hospitalizations, federal health officials reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified the strain responsible for the illnesses as Salmonella Javiana, with reported onset dates ranging from June 19th to July 20th.

Epidemiologic evidence and supply-chain traceback investigations traced the contaminated produce back to a single grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, whose peppers were imported and distributed throughout the country by California-based Coast Citrus Distributors.

The outbreak has primarily affected patrons of Mexican-style restaurant chains, with health authorities identifying "27 distinct illness clusters."

 

Interviews conducted with affected individuals revealed that 93% had dined at establishments such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA prior to becoming ill. Colorado and Minnesota have borne the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for 110 confirmed cases each, while Illinois has recorded 30 cases.

Cases have also been identified across 24 other states, stretching from Washington to Florida.

Both Chipotle and QDOBA took swift mitigation steps to halt potential exposure. Chipotle transitioned to an alternative jalapeño supplier across its nationwide locations starting July 20th, while QDOBA proactively removed jalapeños from its menu entirely on July 28th.

 

Since both chains promptly eliminated the affected supply, federal health regulators clarified that neither restaurant presents an ongoing risk to consumers regarding this outbreak.

Coast Citrus Distributors has agreed to recall the affected batches of jalapeños and is currently notifying its commercial customers and wholesale recipients.

Meanwhile, the FDA continues to trace distribution records to determine whether any contaminated peppers were sent directly to retail grocery chains. Federal agencies advise businesses to inspect inventory, refrain from serving or selling recalled peppers and sanitize all surfaces that may have come into contact with the produce.

 

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