Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños spreads to 27 states

A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers has now spread to 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(NBC)- A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers has now spread to 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal health officials say more than 300 people have become sick and 36 have been hospitalized. Minnesota, Colorado and Illinois have reported the highest number of cases.

The growing outbreak has prompted another major restaurant chain to pull jalapeños from its menu.

Qdoba announced it has proactively removed jalapeños from its restaurants, saying food safety is its highest priority.

Chipotle made a similar move earlier after Minnesota health officials traced many of the state’s salmonella cases to a lot of jalapeño peppers used by the chain. Chipotle says it has replaced the peppers with products from different growers.

Food safety experts say salmonella contamination often occurs through contaminated irrigation water or water that comes into contact with produce during the growing process.

Unlike the recent Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce, salmonella is a bacteria that typically causes fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea within eight to 72 hours after eating contaminated food.

The outbreaks involving Taco Bell, Chipotle and Qdoba have raised new concerns about food safety, though experts emphasize that the nation’s food supply remains generally safe despite occasional contamination incidents.