93% of Cases in Jalapeno Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Mexican Chains, Officials Say

Key Findings of the jalapeno salmonella outbreak

The ongoing jalapeno salmonella outbreak has been linked to a single grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and to Mexican‑style restaurant chains such as Chipotle and Qdoba. At least 345 people in 27 states reported illness, with the highest concentrations in Minnesota and Colorado. No fatalities have been recorded, but 36 patients required hospitalization. The CDC said the contaminated peppers entered the United States through Reuters-cited distributor Coast Citrus Distributors, which has issued a recall and is notifying its clients.

Restaurant exposure dominates

Of the 191 interviewees, 177 (or 93%) ate at Mexican‑style eateries between June 14 and July 14, according to the FDA. Chipotle announced it removed jalapeños from affected locations, while Qdoba pulled the pepper from all its venues.

“Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak,” CDC said.

The FDA continues to probe whether any of the jalapeños reached grocery shelves and may update its recalls page. Mexican health officials have opened an investigation and inspected a packing plant in Nuevo León. Salmonella infections cause roughly 1.35 million cases annually in the U.S., with outbreaks tied to foods ranging from cucumbers to fresh basil. Symptoms appear within hours to days and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, typically lasting four to seven days. Vulnerable groups—young children, seniors and immunocompromised adults—face higher risk of severe disease. Chipotle shares slid ↓ 10% after the news, adding pressure to fast‑casual chains already wrestling with inflation‑driven foot‑traffic declines. The situation underscores the need for tighter supply‑chain oversight in the fresh‑produce sector. AP News provides ongoing coverage. Correction: An earlier dispatch misstated the restaurant removal timeline; the correct start date is June 14.