Jalapeño Recall
Jalapeño Recall Expands to Grocery Stores in Texas and Louisiana Amid Salmonella Outbreak Concerns
A jalapeño recall has grown to cover grocery store products across Texas and Louisiana, after fears of salmonella contamination spread beyond raw peppers. NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC, a Texas-based company, is voluntarily pulling items that used jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, according to KLTV.
The affected products — including pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms, and soup mixes — were distributed between July 3 and Aug. 5. This expansion is tied to a wider Coast Citrus Distributors recall linked to a salmonella outbreak now spanning 27 states. No deaths have been reported, but dozens of people have been hospitalized, KCBD reports.
Which Grocery Products Are Now Being Recalled
NatureBest's recall covers a range of ready-to-eat and prepared items. The full list includes pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms, and various soup mixes. All of these products contain jalapeños that came from Coast Citrus Distributors, according to KWTX.
The distribution window runs from July 3 through Aug. 5. Retail customers in Texas and Louisiana received the recalled products. Shoppers who bought any of these items during that period should not eat them and should check with the store where they were purchased, Fox Carolina reported.
Outbreak Now Stretches Across 27 States
The NatureBest recall is an expansion of a larger problem. Coast Citrus Distributors first recalled its jalapeños after they were linked to a salmonella outbreak. That outbreak has now reached 27 states, according to WCAX. Dozens of people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been confirmed.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Symptoms usually start within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. People with weakened immune systems, young children, and older adults face the highest risk of serious illness.
FDA and CDC Trace Likely Source to Mexico
Federal investigators have narrowed down where the contamination likely started. The FDA and CDC identified a common grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, as the probable source of the tainted jalapeños, according to Alaska's News Source. Sinaloa is one of Mexico's largest agricultural regions and a major supplier of peppers to the U.S. market.
Investigators have not yet said exactly how the contamination occurred at the farm level. The FDA continues to work with suppliers and distributors to trace the full chain of distribution, WABI reported.
What Consumers Should Do Right Now
Anyone who bought jalapeños or products containing them between July 3 and Aug. 5 in Texas or Louisiana should check the packaging. If the product came from NatureBest or used Coast Citrus Distributors jalapeños, do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store, according to WTOC.
Consumers with questions can contact NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC directly. The FDA also has an updated list of recalled products on its website. Anyone who feels sick after eating jalapeño-containing foods should see a doctor, 13ABC noted.
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