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The CDC has declared an end to a Salmonella Javiana outbreak linked to fresh jalapeño peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. The outbreak sickened 488 people in 34 states, led to 65 hospitalizations and caused no reported deaths; investigators could not determine how the peppers became contaminated.
The CDC has declared an end to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections traced to fresh jalapeño peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. The outbreak sickened 488 people in 34 states; 65 were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Another Salmonella outbreak has also been reported.
According to the CDC figures reported by Food Safety News, patients ranged in age from younger than 1 to 85, with a median age of 31. Reported illnesses began between June 16 and Aug. 26. The outbreak’s peak day was July 5, when 38 people fell ill, according to the report.
Traceback and epidemiological evidence identified fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, as the outbreak source. Investigators have also traced a separate Salmonella outbreak to expired eggs used in a meal. The company recalled its whole peppers, and businesses that had received and used the peppers issued additional recalls for various products, the Food and Drug Administration said, as reported by Food Safety News.
Investigators identified 36 illness clusters associated with 31 Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in seven states and five QDOBA locations in two states. Of 308 people interviewed, 281 said they had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill. The reported meal dates ran from June 14 to July 29. Jalapeño, red onion, cilantro and avocado were among the commonly reported ingredients; those reports do not establish that every ingredient was contaminated.
The Outbreak’s Restaurant Links
The outbreak’s scale—488 confirmed infections across 34 states—shows how a contaminated ingredient distributed through food businesses can be linked to illnesses in many locations. Restaurant clusters helped investigators identify a shared pattern, while interviews connected many patients to Mexican-style restaurant meals before illness.
The confirmed case count is not a complete measure of everyone who may have been sick. Food Safety News reported that the CDC estimates 29 Salmonella infections go undetected for every confirmed patient in an outbreak, because some people do not seek care or are not tested for Salmonella. That estimate is a general CDC estimate, not a count of additional cases confirmed in this outbreak.
For consumers, the outbreak’s end means the CDC has concluded its response to this cluster; it does not establish that every possible exposure or illness was identified. The associated recalls addressed the peppers and products made with them, while the precise contamination route remained unknown.
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How Investigators Traced the Peppers
Investigators used epidemiological evidence—including interviews about foods eaten before illness—and traceback information to connect cases with jalapeños from the same supply chain. Restaurant illness clusters offered another point of comparison. The overlap in reported meals and ingredients helped narrow the investigation, but ingredient reports alone are not proof that each item caused infection.
FDA staff inspected a Mexican distributor identified through traceback, but the agency did not name the distributor in the reported findings. The inspection included observing operations, reviewing records and collecting samples. No jalapeños were available to sample at the time. FDA environmental samples tested negative for Salmonella, according to Food Safety News.
“For every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 who go undetected.”
— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported by Food Safety News
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How Contamination Occurred
Although traceback and epidemiological evidence linked the outbreak to imported jalapeños, investigators could not establish the specific route or source of contamination. FDA had no jalapeños available for sampling during the distributor inspection, and the environmental samples it collected were negative for Salmonella. The reported findings do not say that testing confirmed the outbreak strain in those samples.
The CDC’s declaration that the outbreak has ended does not reveal whether every person who became ill was identified. The reported investigation also does not provide the names of the 34 states, a full list of recalled downstream products, or details about how long those products may have remained in circulation.
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Recall and Investigation Status
The CDC has called the outbreak over, and the reported account describes the company’s recall of whole jalapeños and recalls by downstream customers. Consumers with questions about a specific recalled item should check the applicable company or FDA recall notice for product details and instructions. The available report does not describe a further investigation milestone or announce additional action.
People who develop symptoms after eating a potentially affected product should contact a health care provider, particularly if they are at higher risk of severe illness. The outbreak report does not provide a new testing or treatment recommendation; medical advice should come from a qualified clinician.
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Key Questions
How many people were sickened in the jalapeño outbreak?
The CDC reported 488 infections in 34 states. There were 65 hospitalizations and no reported deaths.
Which peppers were linked to the outbreak?
Traceback and epidemiological evidence linked the outbreak to fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
Did investigators find how the jalapeños became contaminated?
No. FDA staff could not determine the route or source of contamination. No jalapeños were available for sampling during the distributor inspection, and collected environmental samples tested negative for Salmonella.
Which restaurants were associated with illness clusters?
Investigators identified illness clusters at 31 Chipotle locations in seven states and five QDOBA locations in two states. These associations formed part of the investigation and do not mean every meal or location was affected.
Does the end of the outbreak mean no more infections are possible?
The CDC’s declaration means it has called this outbreak over. The report says some illnesses may go uncounted, but it does not provide evidence of further cases or establish that all potential exposures were identified.
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