Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Taylor Farms Recall

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Taylor Farms has recalled over a dozen products, including salsa and guacamole, due to a salmonella risk. These items were sold at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s. The company, based in California, has also been linked to a recent cyclospora outbreak involving iceberg lettuce.

The recall involves potentially contaminated fresh jalapeños. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella bacteria can lead to serious foodborne diseases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Infections often occur after consuming contaminated food or water and pose significant risks to young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The salmonella outbreak is linked to fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, a wholesale company operating in the U.S. and Mexico. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have identified a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, as a possible source.

As of late July, CDC data shows 345 infected individuals across 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations. There have been no reported deaths. Taylor Farms has decided to switch suppliers, no longer sourcing from the Sinaloa-based farmer.

Salmonella Outbreak Details

The FDA reports illnesses began between June 19 and July 20. Of those interviewed, 93 percent had eaten at Mexican-style restaurants, such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, between June 14 and July 14. Both restaurants stopped using the affected jalapeños after learning of the outbreak. The FDA and CDC now indicate no ongoing salmonella risk at these dining establishments.

The investigation into the outbreak remains open. The FDA and CDC urge businesses to review their inventories for potentially contaminated products, including the recalled jalapeños.

The jalapeño products, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, were mainly sold to restaurants and wholesale buyers. The FDA and CDC are still assessing whether these products reached grocery stores in the U.S.

Reported salmonella infections span the following states: