A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to fresh jalapeño peppers has expanded into another part of the nation’s food supply, prompting federal officials to issue a public health alert for prepared meat and poultry products containing recalled peppers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the alert after the Food and Drug Administration determined that recalled jalapeños had been distributed to federally inspected establishments where they were used as ingredients in meat and poultry products.
The action broadens a federal investigation that began with fresh jalapeño peppers linked to a Salmonella Javiana outbreak affecting hundreds of people across the United States.
Federal health officials have reported 345 illnesses across 27 states, including 36 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported. Illnesses identified during the investigation began between June 19 and July 20.
Investigators linked the outbreak to fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors. Federal traceback work identified a common grower as the likely source of the peppers involved in the outbreak. The distributor subsequently recalled the affected jalapeños and stopped importing peppers from the implicated grower.
The investigation initially focused heavily on restaurant exposure. Of 191 people interviewed by health officials, 177 reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill. Federal investigators identified restaurant chains among businesses that had received peppers supplied through the distributor. Those restaurants stopped using the affected peppers, and federal agencies have not identified them as an ongoing source of exposure from the recalled product.
The investigation has since moved further through the food distribution chain.
Because fresh produce is generally regulated by the FDA while federally inspected meat and poultry products fall under USDA jurisdiction, the discovery that recalled jalapeños had been incorporated into prepared foods brought FSIS into the downstream investigation.
The initial USDA public health alert covers 18 meat and poultry products containing the recalled ingredient. Prepared foods identified through the investigation include ready-to-eat products such as chicken salads and other packaged foods containing jalapeños.
Products connected to the alert have been associated with major grocery and convenience retailers in multiple states, including Walmart, Kroger, Dillons, H-E-B, Albertsons, Hannaford, Wawa, RaceTrac, Randalls and Tom Thumb.
One of the identified products is Marketside Southwest Style Salad with Chicken sold through Walmart. Federal officials are advising consumers to rely on the specific product names, package sizes, use-by dates and USDA establishment information contained in the federal alert when determining whether food in their homes is affected.
The products identified so far were distributed across numerous states. Oregon was not included in the distribution area identified in the initial downstream meat and poultry alert.
USDA officials cautioned, however, that the investigation remains active and additional products are expected to be identified as federal investigators determine where the recalled jalapeños were distributed and how they were used.
No illnesses have been confirmed specifically from the prepared meat and poultry products included in the USDA alert. The 345 illnesses reported by federal health officials are connected to the broader jalapeño-associated Salmonella outbreak.
Federal officials are particularly concerned that some affected prepared foods could remain in household refrigerators or freezers after being removed from retail shelves. Consumers who have a product matching the federal alert are advised not to eat it and instead discard it or return it to the place of purchase.
The FDA is also advising consumers and businesses with recalled fresh jalapeños to discard them and clean and sanitize containers, countertops and other surfaces that may have contacted the peppers to reduce the possibility of cross-contamination.
Salmonella infection commonly causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms can begin between six hours and six days after exposure and generally last four to seven days. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face an increased risk of severe illness.
The federal investigation remains underway as FDA officials continue tracing the distribution of the recalled peppers and USDA investigators identify meat and poultry products manufactured with them.
FSIS has advised consumers to continue checking federal updates because the current product list may expand as additional downstream foods are identified.