Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapenos sickens 345 across 27 US states

A sign sits outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Roybal campus in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 18, 2026. Megan Varner | ReutersThe U.S. CDC and the FDA said on Wednesday they are investigating ​a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to ‌jalapeno peppers from Mexico, which have sickened 345 people across 27 states and prompted a recall of affected products.The FDA said 36 ​hospitalizations and no deaths have been ​reported, while the investigation remains ongoing.The health agencies linked ⁠the outbreak to jalapeno peppers supplied by ​a common grower in Sinaloa and distributed ​in the U.S. by Coast Citrus Distributors.The company has agreed to recall the remaining product and is ​notifying affected customers, the FDA said.The U.S. investigation ​identified restaurants including Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N), opens new tab and QDOBA, a ‌Mexican-style ⁠restaurant chain, as recipients of jalapenos imported by Coast Citrus Distributors.Chipotle has since switched jalapeno suppliers for its restaurants beginning July ​20, while ​QDOBA stopped ⁠using jalapenos on July 28 and is no longer serving them, ​according to the FDA."FDA does not ​consider ⁠there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this ⁠outbreak," the ​Food and Drug Administration said in ​a statement.