Taylor Farms is recalling several products, including salsa and guacamole, from retailers like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s. The recall is due to a salmonella risk. This California-based company, known for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, announced the voluntary recall due to potentially contaminated fresh jalapeños in certain finished products.
Salmonella, found in the intestines of humans and animals, is a major cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S., according to the CDC. Infections arise from consuming contaminated food or water and can be dangerous particularly for young children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.
This recall follows a salmonella outbreak linked to fresh jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors, distributing produce across the U.S. and Mexico. The FDA and CDC traced the probable source to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico.
Data from the CDC reports 345 salmonella cases across 27 states since late July. There have been 36 hospitalizations, but no fatalities.
Taylor Farms has ceased obtaining products from the implicated Sinaloa supplier, opting for alternative sources instead. Affected products include:
Details on the Salmonella Outbreak
Illness reports began between June 19 and July 20, per the FDA. Of the 191 interviewed patients, 177 (93%) had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant, like Chipotle or QDOBA, from June 14 to July 14.
Both Chipotle and QDOBA have removed affected jalapeños from their menus. The FDA and CDC have stated the risk of eating salmonella-contaminated foods at these establishments has been addressed.
The FDA and CDC investigations continue, and they urge businesses to check for possibly contaminated inventory, specifically the recalled jalapeño peppers.
The jalapeños distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors primarily went to restaurants or were sold wholesale. It’s undetermined if these jalapeños reached grocery stores in the U.S.
States with reported salmonella cases include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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