Qdoba stops serving affected jalapeños in 27-state salmonella outbreak

Qdoba has stopped serving affected jalapeño peppers as a Qdoba jalapeño salmonella outbreak investigation reaches 27 states. The chain said it removed jalapeños from all restaurants while it cooperates with public-health authorities, according to CBS News.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its August 5 update covers 345 reported Salmonella Javiana illnesses as of August 4. Thirty-six people were hospitalized, equal to 12% of the 291 patients for whom hospitalization information was available. No deaths have been reported.

What is the Qdoba jalapeño salmonella outbreak?

CDC investigators say epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors may be contaminated and may be making people sick. FDA traceback work identified a common Sinaloa grower that supplies Coast Citrus as the likely source, the CDC said.

The investigation does not identify Qdoba or Chipotle as the source of contamination. Instead, it focuses on the pepper supply chain and reported restaurant meals before people became ill.

Of 191 people interviewed by health officials, 177 said they had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant in the week before becoming sick. Those reports included Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, with meal dates from June 14 through July 14. Investigators found 27 illness clusters at Chipotle and Qdoba sites in seven states, and patients commonly reported jalapeños, red onion, cilantro and avocado among ingredients they ate.

What do customers need to know now?

CDC said both Qdoba and Chipotle stopped serving the affected peppers after being told about the outbreak. Because the companies removed the product, CDC and FDA do not consider their restaurants to pose a current ongoing risk to customers in this outbreak.

Illnesses recorded in the investigation began between June 19 and July 20. The reported total is likely lower than the actual number of cases, CDC said, because some people recover without seeking medical care or being tested. It can also take three to four weeks to connect a recent illness to an outbreak.

Businesses should review their inventory for recalled jalapeños and should not sell or serve them while the investigation continues, CDC said. Coast Citrus agreed to recall remaining product implicated in the outbreak, CBS News reported, citing FDA.

• Reported illnesses: 345
• States: 27
• Hospitalizations: 36 of 291 patients with available information
• Deaths: 0

CDC’s public investigation update is available here.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.