The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded a recall of guacamole and pico de gallo dips sold at Whole Foods Market to its highest warning level, Class I, citing a "reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

The recall initially involved nearly 13,000 units of dips containing jalapenos sourced from Coast Citrus Distributors, a supplier linked to multiple recalls and an ongoing multistate outbreak investigation by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The affected products, with best-before and best-by dates ranging from August 7 to August 16, 2026, were distributed in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Products include Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes, Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Medium Pico de Gallo Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Trio Dip, and Whole Foods Mango Pineapple Salsa.

While no illnesses have been reported in direct connection with the Whole Foods Market recall, the broader outbreak linked to the jalapenos has resulted in 431 illnesses across 32 states as of August 21, leading to 57 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.

Illnesses in the multistate outbreak were reported between June 19 and August 2. Interviews with affected individuals indicated that many had eaten at Mexican-style restaurants before falling ill. Two major chains, Chipotle and Qdoba, reportedly stopped serving the implicated jalapenos after being notified of the outbreak, and the FDA and CDC have stated there is no ongoing risk linked to these establishments.

Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and dehydration. While most infections resolve with rest and hydration, the bacteria can lead to severe complications, especially in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In severe cases, salmonella can enter the bloodstream, causing invasive infections like endocarditis (heart valve infection), osteomyelitis (bone infection), meningitis (brain and spinal cord membrane infection), or septic arthritis (joint infection). These invasive infections require prompt antibiotic treatment and can sometimes lead to long-term issues such as reactive arthritis or post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.

The CDC estimates that salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually. The bacteria's resilience allows it to survive on surfaces for extended periods, making thorough elimination from food supply chains crucial.

The FDA is advising consumers who have purchased the recalled Whole Foods products to discard them immediately or return them to the store for a refund. The agency and CDC continue to investigate how the jalapenos became contaminated, noting that in similar past incidents, contamination has been linked to irrigating crops with contaminated water.