Taylor Farms Recalls Dozens of Products Over Salmonella Concerns

Taylor Farms is recalling more than a dozen food items, including salsas and guacamole, due to a multistate salmonella outbreak. The recalled products contain jalapeño peppers, which have been linked to the illnesses.

The Salinas, California-based food distributor announced Sunday that it is removing products such as salsas, guacamoles, burritos, taco dips, and shrimp salads from store shelves. These items were distributed to over two dozen states, including New York, and sold at major retailers like Hannaford, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods.

The salmonella outbreak, which has sickened at least 345 people and resulted in 36 hospitalizations, has been traced to fresh jalapeños sourced from a farmer in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Taylor Farms stated that it has stopped sourcing jalapeños from that particular farmer and is not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its recalled prepared food items.

This recall follows a previous incident last month where federal health officials linked a widespread outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite causing severe diarrhea, to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. Taco Bell was the only major national restaurant chain identified in that outbreak. The cyclospora outbreak has led to an estimated 20,000 illnesses, hundreds of hospitalizations, and at least two deaths, according to the CDC.

Recent recalls have highlighted concerns about food industry consolidation and its potential to amplify outbreaks. Companies like Sweetgreen, Chipotle, and QDOBA have removed Coast Citrus jalapeños from their menus. Several restaurant chains have reported dampened demand for produce, with Sweetgreen revising its earnings forecast and Chipotle noting a sales dip following the cyclospora outbreak. Salad and Go, a fast-casual chain, filed for bankruptcy, citing the cyclospora outbreak as a factor that compounded existing challenges.

Cyclospora is a parasite typically transmitted through contaminated food or water, causing an intestinal illness characterized by watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, and gas. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause foodborne illness with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and cramps. Both illnesses can lead to more severe infections in young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.