Another nasty foodborne illness is rapidly spreading across the country, sickening 345 people in 27 states so far — as the deadly explosive diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis outbreak is still running rampant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring a salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños sourced from Mexico and supplied by California-based Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurants like Qdoba and Chipotle, both of which announced they were proactively removing the peppers from their menus.
Colorado and Minnesota represent the majority of cases so far, with 110 each, while Illinois has 30 confirmed cases and Kansas has 13. Minnesota health officials said among those sickened in the state, 89% had eaten at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14.
Cases have also been reported in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, according to CDC.
The health agency says 36 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
Coast Citrus Distributors said it will issue a recall, according to the CDC, which said the Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether the infected jalapeños wound up on grocery store shelves.
Salmonella is typically caused by consuming contaminated animal products and produce, most commonly chicken, turkey, eggs, milk and fruits and vegetables like melons, tomatoes and leafy greens.
Symptoms usually include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
The salmonella outbreak comes hot on the heels of the cyclosporiasis “explosive diarrhea” outbreak, which has sickened more than 22,000 people and hospitalized more than 500, according to CDC — more than half of them in Michigan.
Two Michigan residents, both of whom had “significant underlying health conditions,” died after contracting the foodborne illness, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
The outbreak is believed to have come from tainted iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, which was supplied to Taco Bell restaurants.
