Taylor Farms announced on Sunday that it is voluntarily recalling prepared food items containing jalapeños due to potential salmonella contamination. The recall includes products such as salsas and guacamole distributed to retailers. The California-based supplier initiated the action after receiving notification that Coast Citrus Distributors was recalling fresh peppers.
The company stated it has ceased sourcing from a specific farmer in Sinaloa, Mexico, who was identified as the potential source of the salmonella. This development follows a separate recent action where Taylor Farms removed lettuce from Mexico after U.S. health authorities linked it to the cyclospora parasite. The company also voluntarily suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico pending a safety review.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported they are investigating a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 345 people across 27 states. The outbreak has resulted in 36 hospitalizations. Federal investigators found that restaurants, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, had received jalapeños imported by Coast Citrus Distributors; both chains have since stopped using the peppers.
The scale of the disruption extends to the international agricultural supply chain, specifically involving growers in Sinaloa and central Mexico. Taylor Farms has halted production and sourcing for certain lettuce and pepper products from these regions, affecting the inventory available to U.S. retailers and restaurants. The company is currently conducting a safety review of its Mexican operations following the identification of both salmonella and cyclospora concerns.
What happens next: Coast Citrus Distributors has recalled its remaining jalapeño products and notified its customers. Taylor Farms is continuing its safety review and has not yet resumed iceberg lettuce production from central Mexico. While the FDA linked cyclosporiasis to Taylor Farms products from central Mexico, the company noted that as of August 5, the agency had not confirmed positive sample tests for cyclospora on its lettuce. The ongoing federal investigation by the CDC and FDA will continue to track the 345 reported cases across the 27 affected states.