Taylor Farms announced Sunday a voluntary recall of more than a dozen prepared food items, including salsas and guacamole, due to concerns about potential salmonella contamination. The affected products contain jalapeño peppers that were part of a larger recall by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The California-based company stated it has ceased sourcing peppers from a specific farmer in Sinaloa, Mexico, who supplied Coast Citrus, and is actively seeking alternative suppliers. This action follows an investigation by U.S. health authorities into a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers imported from Mexico. Earlier in the week, this outbreak had reportedly sickened 345 people across 27 states and resulted in 36 hospitalizations.
Restaurant chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, which had received the affected peppers, have since stopped their use. Coast Citrus Distributors also recalled its remaining product and informed its customers.
Taylor Farms has reported no illnesses linked to its voluntarily recalled items. Salmonella infections can lead to symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These infections can be particularly severe for young children, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
This recall occurs amid increased scrutiny of food safety within the restaurant industry. This heightened attention follows an earlier outbreak of the parasitic disease cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell and renewed focus on past foodborne illness incidents at Chipotle.