Taylor Farms recalls salsa, guacamole and meat products over salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeños

Salmonella outbreak traced to Mexican jalapeños

A multistate salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states since the first illnesses were reported in June, predominantly in Minnesota and Colorado. Thirty-six individuals have required hospitalization, and no deaths have been reported in connection with the salmonella outbreak, according to the CDC. Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps six hours to six days after exposure, with infants, older adults, and those who are pregnant or immunocompromised most vulnerable. The peppers are distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers, restaurants, and food service companies, according to the FDA.

Taylor Farms announced on Sunday, August 9, that it was voluntarily recalling more than a dozen prepared food items containing jalapeños, including salsas, guacamole, spicy guacamole, mango pico de gallo, and taco dip. The recalled products, both branded and unbranded, were distributed across 26 states to retailers including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Hannaford, and Kroger, with "Best If Used By" dates up to and including August 16, 2026. Taylor Farms said it was recalling finished products containing jalapeños that were voluntarily recalled by Coast Citrus Distributors earlier in August.

Meat products also pulled

On Saturday, August 8, the FSIS issued a recall alert for 18 meat products containing jalapeños due to potential salmonella contamination. Brands affected include Taylor Farms, Ready Meals, Meal Simple, Higher Harvest, and Deli Kitchen. Affected Taylor Farms meat products include its Classic Beef Burrito, Chipotle Chicken Wrap, Chicken Verde Burrito, and Chicken Enchilada, sold at Hannaford and Kroger, with use-by dates ranging from August 7 to August 16, 2026. Other recalled items include Deli Kitchen's Chipotle Cheddar Chicken Wrap and Cajun Chicken Mashed Potatoes and Corn stocked at Kroger and Dillons.

expects additional downstream products will be identified as this ingredient recall progresses

Restaurant chains respond

Data compiled by the CDC found that of 191 patients interviewed about their illness, 93 percent reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before falling sick, including the chains Chipotle and Qdoba. Chipotle announced this week that it had pulled jalapeños from some of its restaurants, with Qdoba doing the same shortly after. The USDA said there have been no confirmed reports of illness from FSIS-regulated products containing jalapeños sourced from Sinaloa. The FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños went to grocery stores and may announce additional actions on its recalls webpage.

Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak.

Company response and separate cyclosporiasis outbreak

Taylor Farms stated it is "no longer sourcing products from this farmer" and that the company "is not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapeños." The recall comes as Taylor Farms, one of the nation's largest producers of leafy greens and fresh vegetables, has also been linked to a large outbreak of cyclosporiasis associated with iceberg lettuce in the United States, which causes severe diarrhea. On Monday, health officials in Michigan reported the first two deaths associated with that cyclosporiasis outbreak. The two people who died had significant underlying health issues, according to the Michigan Health Department.