Here’s What You Need to Know About the Recent Salmonella Outbreak

What You Need to Know About the Latest Salmonella Outbreak

Eggs are seen at a farmer’s market in Markham, Ontario

Federal health officials are investigating a Salmonella Javiana outbreak linked to fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico. At the same time, a separate Salmonella outbreak involving recalled eggs is also active.

The two outbreaks are not connected, but both are worth knowing about if you recently bought jalapeño-containing foods or eggs.

The Jalapeño Outbreak

The CDC has reported 345 illnesses across 27 states, 36 hospitalizations, and no deaths in the jalapeño-linked outbreak.

Investigators traced the outbreak to jalapeños distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Because those peppers were also used to make prepared foods, recalls expanded beyond whole jalapeños to products such as salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, salads, and diced peppers.

Affected products have been sold through several major retailers, including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Target, Kroger, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, and others. Only specific recalled products and date codes are affected not every jalapeño or salsa sold at these stores.

Chipotle and QDOBA also previously received peppers from the affected supply chain, but both removed them, and federal officials do not currently consider the restaurants an ongoing risk from this outbreak.

There Is Also a Separate Egg Recall

A different outbreak involving Salmonella Enteritidis has been linked to eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services.

Nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs were recalled. The outbreak has been linked to 98 illnesses, 26 hospitalizations, and no reported deaths.

Affected eggs were sold under several brands, including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Country Morning, and Cal-Maine Sunups.

If you have eggs at home, check the carton for plant codes:

P-1950 or 0840962

along with Julian dates between 157 and 184. Some affected cartons have sell-by or best-by dates through August 17, 2026.

The FDA has classified this as a **Class I recall**, its highest risk category.

What Does Salmonella Feel Like?

Salmonella most commonly causes:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Loss of appetite

Symptoms usually begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection and generally last about four to seven days.

Most healthy people recover without specific medical treatment.

When Should You Contact a Doctor?

Seek medical advice if you develop:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Fever above 102°F
• Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days
• Vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as very dark urine, little urination, extreme thirst, dry mouth, or dizziness

Young children, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop serious illness.

What Should You Do?

If you recently bought fresh salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, diced jalapeños, prepared foods containing jalapeños, or recalled eggs, check the FDA or CDC recall information before eating them.

If you have a recalled product:

Do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store.

Wash refrigerator drawers, containers, counters, cutting boards, and other surfaces that may have touched the food using hot, soapy water.

If you already ate one of the recalled products but feel fine, you do not need to assume you are infected. Simply watch for symptoms over the next several days.

What to Remember

The current recalls do not mean all jalapeños, salsa, guacamole, or eggs are unsafe.

Food recalls often become large because a single contaminated ingredient can be distributed to many restaurants and manufacturers and then appear in several different finished products.

The most useful response is simple: check what you bought, compare it with the official recall information, discard recalled products, and know when symptoms require medical attention.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on information from the CDC, FDA, and other cited sources available at the time of publication. Outbreak and recall information can change as investigations continue. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms or have questions about your health, consult a qualified healthcare professional.