Towards the end of July, serious food poisoning outbreak credited to cyclospora had infected 1,947 people and resulted in the hospitalisation of close to 100 people.
Linked to shredded lettuce from central Mexico supplied by major producer Taylor Farms, the parasite prompted a recall of the vegetable across 27 states. The withdrawn products had also been sold on the Mexican market.
American health officials have said the outbreak is the largest reported in US history and has spread to nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Another recall has now hit Taylor Farms’ jalapeño peppers, which have been linked to 110 people falling ill after consuming the ingredient at Chipotle restaurants in Minnesota.
The restaurant chain pulled the product out of an abundance of caution, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider there to be an ongoing risk from these establishments due to their swift actions.
According to the FDA, the jalapeños were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, contaminated with salmonella and distributed by Taylor Farms supplier Coast Citrus Distributors to retailers in 27 states.
Government agencies have now expanded the recall following 345 confirmed illnesses and 36 hospitalisations.
A range of products containing the jalapeños have been withdrawn from major American retailers, including Hannaford, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Whole Foods.
Taylor Farms has confirmed that it is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers.
The FDA advises consumers, restaurants and retailers not to eat, sell or serve the recalled products.
Symptoms caused by Salmonella typically include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
A full list of the recalled items and affected retailers can be found on the FDA’s website.
