What Is Salmonella? FAQs from IFPA

August 21, 2026

Salmonella Outbreak August 2026

Last updated: August 21, 2026 / 3:00 PM — This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

About Salmonella

What is Salmonella? Salmonella is a group of bacteria and a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. It lives naturally in the intestinal tracts of many animals and can contaminate food at any point from the farm to the kitchen. Most healthy people recover without treatment, but the infection can be serious for young children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems.

What are the symptoms of Salmonella infection? Common symptoms include watery diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), stomach cramps, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms typically begin 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and last 4 to 7 days. Some infected people have no symptoms at all.

What should I do if I think I have Salmonella? Contact a healthcare provider if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, if you see blood in your stool, if you have a fever above 102°F, or if you notice signs of dehydration such as reduced urination, dry mouth, or dizziness. Most healthy adults recover with rest and fluids, but a doctor can determine whether testing or treatment is needed.

Is anyone at higher risk of severe illness? Yes. Children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, or complications, and should take extra care to follow recall guidance.

The Current Outbreak

What is happening right now? CDC and FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana linked to fresh jalapeño peppers. As of the most recent update (August 19, 2026), 431 people across 32 states have been reported ill, including 57 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported. Illness onset dates range from June 19 to July 20, 2026, with a median patient age of 30.

Has a specific source been identified? Yes. Traceback investigation identified fresh jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors as the likely source. The distributor has stated it no longer sources peppers from the implicated grower.

Has any product been recalled? Yes. Coast Citrus Distributors recalled the affected jalapeños, and Taylor Fresh Foods recalled 19 products containing jalapeños with “best if used by” dates through August 16, 2026. Coast Citrus Distributors recalled the affected jalapeños. Taylor Fresh Foods, Hardie's Fresh Foods, NatureBest Precut & Produce/HEB, and Whole Foods Market have all since recalled jalapeño-containing products. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also issued a public health alert for certain meat and poultry products made with the recalled peppers.

Were any restaurants affected? Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA voluntarily stopped serving jalapeños while the investigation continued. This was a precautionary step and does not mean either chain was confirmed as a source.

What should I do if I have jalapeños or jalapeño-containing products at home? Coast Citrus Distributors is a wholesale supplier, not a retail brand, so it doesn't sell directly to the public. It supplies raw jalapeños to larger companies, such as Taylor Fresh Foods, that repackage them into branded, ready-to-eat, or value-added products sold in stores and restaurants.

That's why the safest way to check whether something in your kitchen is affected is to look up the retail brand names and product lines named in the recall notices at the FDA, CDC, or FSIS, including package dates and lot codes. If it matches, do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store, and wash any containers, cutting boards, or surfaces that touched it with hot, soapy water. If you can't confirm whether a product is affected, the safer choice is to discard it.

How Salmonella Spreads and How to Protect Yourself

How does Salmonella get into food? Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of many animals, including birds, reptiles, and livestock. It can contaminate produce through contact with contaminated water, soil, equipment, or animal waste at any point from the field to processing, distribution, or your kitchen.

Can washing produce remove Salmonella? Rinsing fresh produce under running water can reduce, but does not eliminate, bacteria on its surface, and it will not make recalled or contaminated produce safe to eat. This is especially true for peppers, whose waxy, textured skin can harbor bacteria in ways that are hard to rinse away. Follow recall guidance rather than relying on washing alone.

What can I do to reduce my risk? A few practical steps:

Check recalled product lists before eating jalapeños or other items named in this outbreak.
Keep raw produce separate from ready-to-eat foods during storage and prep.

Wash your hands before and after handling fresh produce.

Refrigerate cut or prepared produce promptly.

Watch for updates, since recalls can expand to cover additional products or lots.

Should I stop eating fresh produce or jalapeños altogether? No. Public health officials are not advising a general avoidance of jalapeños or fresh produce, only the specific recalled products tied to this outbreak. Fresh produce remains a safe and important part of a healthy diet.

Rules and Safeguards Already in Place

What regulations govern produce safety? The FDA's Produce Safety Rule, issued under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), sets science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce, covering agricultural water quality, worker hygiene, and sanitation of equipment and facilities.

Do these rules apply to imported produce like these jalapeños? Imported food falls under a related FSMA regulation, the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), which requires U.S. importers to verify that their foreign suppliers are using processes that provide the same level of public health protection required of U.S. producers.

What is the industry doing in response? IFPA is monitoring the investigation / coordinating with FDA and CDC on traceback / sharing recall information with members, and continues to support industry investment in traceability technology and good agricultural practices to reduce the risk of future contamination events.

Resources and Where to Get Updates

Where can I check if a product I have is affected? Cross-check any jalapeño-containing product you have against these official recall notices:

FDA recall and outbreak investigation page (jalapeño, August 2026)

USDA/FSIS recall and public health alerts

CDC Salmonella outbreak investigation page (Javiana, August 2026)

Where can I get ongoing updates on this outbreak? CDC and FDA update their outbreak pages as new information becomes available; IFPA will also post updates as they become available.

Who can I contact with questions?

Media inquiries: media@freshproduce.com
Food safety questions: foodsafety@freshproduce.com