Salmonella Outbreak Expands Jalapeño Food Recall

Federal regulators said a nationwide recall has widened to cover prepared, refrigerated foods made with jalapeño peppers after investigators tied the items to a Salmonella javiana outbreak. Officials said the contamination was traced to jalapeño produce sourced from Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, with affected prepared items manufactured by Taylor Fresh Foods.

Officials said the recall now covers multiple types of ready-to-eat and heat-and-eat products, including salsa, guacamole, burritos, and sandwiches. Regulators described the situation as an example of how a single ingredient can spread across many prepared food lines once it enters a production system.

Mexico-sourced peppers and the prepared-food supply chain Investigators Illness reports across 27 states Federal regulators said the outbreak has been linked Federal regulators said the outbreak has been linked to 345 confirmed illnesses and 36 hospitalizations. Cases were reported in 27 states, which officials said points to a multi-state public health event rather than a local issue. Officials did not say, based on the information provided, whether more illnesses are expected. They said public health alerts were issued covering both the jalapeño peppers themselves and downstream products made using the affected ingredient. Mexico-sourced peppers and the prepared-food supply chain Investigators said they traced the contamination to jalapeño peppers sourced from Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Officials said Taylor Fresh Foods manufactured the prepared, refrigerated foods included in the recall. Coast Citrus Distributors said it ended its relationship with the supplier tied to the contamination and moved to alternative sourcing. The company did not identify replacement sources in the information provided.

Retail footprint and secondary products

Officials said the recalled foods were sold across 26 states at major retail chains, widening the impact beyond a single store group or brand family. The information provided did not include a full list of affected retailers, brands, or all lot identifiers. Regulatory agencies also issued public health alerts for Regulatory agencies also issued public health alerts for secondary products, including meat and poultry items that contain the affected ingredients. Officials said this shows how a contaminated component can reach multiple product categories after being incorporated into prepared-food manufacturing.

Lot codes, dates through August 16, 2026, and traceability gaps Officials advised retailers, food service operators, and institutional buyers to identify and remove impacted inventory. They said verification should include specific lot codes and expiration dates through August 16, 2026, to reduce ongoing exposure and potential liability.

Officials said institutional risk remains elevated as supply chain vulnerabilities continue to affect major retail and food service providers. With key details incomplete in the information provided, officials said affected organizations may need to use regulator notices and supplier documentation to finish tracebacks and confirm whether products in storage or distribution are implicated.