The Taylor Farms Salmonella recall includes 20 prepared food products containing jalapeño peppers after federal health officials linked the peppers to a multistate outbreak. The Salmonella outbreak has sickened 345 people across 27 states and sent 36 people to hospitals.

The company announced the recall on Aug. 9 after Coast Citrus Distributors recalled fresh jalapeños. Federal health officials have linked those peppers to a growing Salmonella outbreak. The outbreak has sickened 345 people in 27 states and sent 36 people to hospitals. No deaths have occurred.

The Taylor Fresh Foods recall includes salsa, guacamole, dips, sandwiches, burritos and other prepared foods. Major retailers sold the affected products under several brands. Those retailers include Walmart, Target, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Hannaford and Stop & Shop.

Taylor distributed the recalled foods to retail centers in 26 states. Some products carry “Best If Used By” dates through Aug. 16. The company urged consumers to throw away recalled products or return them for a refund.

The recall does not mean investigators have linked Taylor products directly to illnesses. Taylor Fresh Foods said it is “not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapeños.” The company also stopped buying ingredients from the grower connected to the investigation.

Federal investigators have traced the larger outbreak to jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico. Coast Citrus Distributors supplied the peppers to restaurants, wholesalers and food service companies. The Food and Drug Administration identified a common grower in Sinaloa as the likely source.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded illnesses from June 19 through July 20. However, the CDC says the outbreak may include many more people. Many people recover at home and never receive a Salmonella test. Reporting a new outbreak case can also take several weeks.

Restaurants Helped Investigators Trace the Outbreak

Consumers affected by the Taylor Farms Salmonella recall should check their refrigerators for recalled salsa, guacamole, dips, sandwiches, burritos and other prepared foods.

Restaurants provided an important clue in the investigation. Public health officials interviewed 191 people who became sick. Of those, 177 said they had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness. That represents 93% of those interviewed.

Investigators found 27 illness clusters connected to Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA locations in seven states. People commonly reported eating ingredients such as jalapeños, red onion, cilantro and avocado.

Both restaurant chains received jalapeños that Coast Citrus imported from Sinaloa. Chipotle changed suppliers at affected locations beginning July 20. QDOBA stopped using the affected jalapeños on July 28. The FDA and CDC now say the restaurants do not pose an ongoing risk from these peppers.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms often begin within 12 to 72 hours after someone eats contaminated food. Most people recover within four to seven days.

Some people face a greater risk of severe illness. That includes young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA advises people who develop symptoms after eating jalapeños to contact a health care provider.

The available demographic data also leave gaps in understanding who the outbreak has affected. The CDC has race information for only 181 of the 345 patients. It has ethnicity information for 184. Among patients with available race data, 9% were Black. Seven percent of patients with available ethnicity data were Hispanic.

Because those records cover only part of the outbreak, they cannot show its full impact across racial and ethnic groups. The CDC also warns that many Salmonella cases never enter official counts because people do not always seek care or receive testing. That limitation is important when public health officials assess how outbreaks affect different communities.

Consumers should check refrigerators for the recalled Taylor products, especially foods purchased at the affected major retailers. The FDA also advises businesses not to sell or serve recalled jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors. People who cannot confirm the source of affected peppers should contact their supplier or discard them.

Federal officials continue to investigate the outbreak and trace the peppers through the food supply. As that work continues, consumers should watch for new recall notices and seek medical care if they develop symptoms after eating jalapeños.

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