Health officials are expanding an investigation into jalapenos served at Chipotle restaurants to include Qdoba restaurants, following a growing salmonella outbreak that has infected 345 people across 27 states. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that the jalapenos may be a possible source of the contamination.
Both restaurant chains have removed the jalapenos from their stores in response to the investigation. Qdoba stated it is cooperating with public health authorities and has proactively removed jalapenos from all its restaurants out of an abundance of caution, emphasizing that guest health and food safety are top priorities.
Chipotle also confirmed it had removed jalapenos from affected restaurants in multiple states. The company stated it uses a robust ingredient traceability system and identified jalapenos as a potential common ingredient from a common lot. They have since been replaced with product from different growers.
The FDA's traceback investigation revealed that both Chipotle and Qdoba received jalapeno ingredients grown in Mexico and imported by Coast Citrus Distributors from Sinaloa. Coast Citrus Distributors has since agreed to recall jalapeno product from the market.
Salmonella bacteria can cause salmonellosis, a common foodborne illness. Symptoms typically include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. These symptoms can appear between six hours and six days after infection and may last for four to seven days. Infections are more common in warmer months when conditions are ideal for bacterial growth.
The highest number of reported salmonella cases are currently in Minnesota and Colorado, each with at least 110 cases. So far, no deaths have been reported, but 36 individuals have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Minnesota Department of Health anticipates that the number of reported cases may increase, noting that identifying cases through surveillance can take time. They urge the public to answer calls from health departments, as the information provided is critical to quickly resolving outbreaks.
The FDA stated that it does not believe there is an ongoing risk from eating at Qdoba or Chipotle restaurants. The CDC estimates that about 1.35 million salmonella infections occur in the U.S. annually.