Nisha Pandey

Chipotle Jalapeños Investigated As Possible Source Of Salmonella Outbreak That Affected 110

<span>Chipotle</span> has gotten rid of jalapeño peppers from some of its restaurants after health officials identified them as a possible source of a <span>Salmonella outbreak</span> that has sickened at least 110 people, mostly in Minnesota. 

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities say the contaminated ingredient may also have reached other Mexican-style restaurants.

<h2>About The <span rel="noindex">Salmonella</span> Outbreak </h2>

The <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/tainted-turkey-undercooked-stuffing-germ-laced-gravywhy-proper-food-handling-is-crucial-this-thanksgiving-article-151100993" data-type="tilCustomLink">Salmonella outbreak</a> is being investigated by the <span>Minnesota Department of Health</span>, the <span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration</span> (<span>FDA</span>), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

At least 75 of the 84 people interviewed reported that they ate at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14. This has prompted health officials to look into all the ingredients served in those meals. 

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/raw-milk-is-storehouse-of-bacteria-should-you-drink-it-article-151068999" data-type="tilCustomLink">Jalapeño peppers</a> seemed to be the most common ingredient found in all the dishes, although officials have not ruled out other ingredients. 

In response, Chipotle said it used its ingredient traceability system to identify a common lot of jalapeños that may be linked to the illnesses. It also said that it has replaced those peppers with stocks from different vendors. 

"We immediately activated our traceability systems, identified the common lot of jalapeños and removed them from our restaurants," the company said, adding that it is cooperating with public health authorities in order to contain the outbreak. 

Carlota Medus, senior epidemiologist supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health, said investigators believe the contaminated peppers may have been supplied to more than one restaurant chain. 

"It's not just Chipotle," Medus said, noting that other Mexican-style restaurants could also have received the same batch of peppers. She added that additional cases are expected because it can take weeks for infections to be diagnosed and reported.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-fda-identifies-new-cyclospora-outbreak-as-michigan-cases-top-7000-why-is-the-source-so-hard-to-trace-article-155165584" data-type="tilCustomLink">US FDA Identifies New Cyclospora Outbreak As Michigan Cases Top 7,000: Why Is The Source So Hard To Trace?</a> 

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/no-junk-food-near-schools-maharashtra-fda-bans-sale-of-foods-drinks-high-in-fat-salt-sugar-article-155217874" data-type="tilCustomLink">Salmonella</a> is a bacterium that contaminates food or water, causing foodborne illness. Infection commonly causes diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Symptoms typically appear six hours to six days after exposure. 

Most healthy people recover within a week, but young children, older adults and those with weak immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness who often end up requiring hospitalization. 

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/fda-launches-an-online-tool-that-can-check-contaminant-levels-in-foods-article-151290698" data-type="tilCustomLink">FDA Launches An Online Tool That Can Check Contaminant Levels In Foods</a>

<h2>Not The First Time Jalapeños Have Come Under Scrutiny</h2>

Fresh produce like peppers can get contaminated anywhere along the supply chain, including during growing, harvesting, processing or distribution. 

As jalapeños are eaten raw in foods like salsa, burrito bowls and tacos, any contamination may survive and end up infecting people. 

This is not the first time jalapeño peppers have been linked to a major Salmonella outbreak. 

In 2008, U.S. investigators traced an outbreak in multiple states that involved more than 1,400 illnesses linked primarily to contaminated jalapeño and serrano peppers imported from Mexico.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/is-unpasteurized-apple-cider-making-you-sick-heres-what-you-should-know-article-151100155" data-type="tilCustomLink">Is Unpasteurized Apple Cider Making You Sick? Here's What You Should Know</a>

<h2>Chipotle's Previous Health Controversies </h2>

WHY TRUMP REFUSES TO AGE?

The latest investigation comes more than a decade after Chipotle faced a series of high-profile food safety incidents involving E. coli, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/new-york-reports-3-suspected-rabbit-fever-cases-what-is-tularemia-article-155245848" data-type="tilCustomLink">norovirus</a> and Salmonella between 2015 and 2018. 

Those outbreaks prompted the restaurant chain to overhaul its food safety protocols, strengthen ingredient traceability and establish stricter food handling practices. 

Officials stress that the current investigation is still underway, and no final determination has been made linking the outbreak exclusively to jalapeños. 

The FDA is currently conducting an investigation to determine where the suspected peppers originated and whether they were distributed to other restaurants or states.

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Chipotle has gotten rid of jalapeño peppers from some of its restaurants after health officials identified them as a possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 110 people, mostly in Minnesota. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities say the contaminated ingredient may also have reached other Mexican-style restaurants.About The Salmonella Outbreak The Salmonella outbreak is being investigated by the Minnesota Department of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 75 of the 84 people interviewed reported that they ate at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14. This has prompted health officials to look into all the ingredients served in those meals. Jalapeño peppers seemed to be the most common ingredient found in all the dishes, although officials have not ruled out other ingredients. In response, Chipotle said it used its ingredient traceability system to identify a common lot of jalapeños that may be linked to the illnesses. It also said that it has replaced those peppers with stocks from different vendors. "We immediately activated our traceability systems, identified the common lot of jalapeños and removed them from our restaurants," the company said, adding that it is cooperating with public health authorities in order to contain the outbreak. Carlota Medus, senior epidemiologist supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health, said investigators believe the contaminated peppers may have been supplied to more than one restaurant chain. "It's not just Chipotle," Medus said, noting that other Mexican-style restaurants could also have received the same batch of peppers. She added that additional cases are expected because it can take weeks for infections to be diagnosed and reported.Also read: US FDA Identifies New Cyclospora Outbreak As Michigan Cases Top 7,000: Why Is The Source So Hard To Trace? What Is Salmonella? Salmonella is a bacterium that contaminates food or water, causing foodborne illness. Infection commonly causes diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Symptoms typically appear six hours to six days after exposure. Most healthy people recover within a week, but young children, older adults and those with weak immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness who often end up requiring hospitalization. Also read: FDA Launches An Online Tool That Can Check Contaminant Levels In FoodsNot The First Time Jalapeños Have Come Under ScrutinyFresh produce like peppers can get contaminated anywhere along the supply chain, including during growing, harvesting, processing or distribution. As jalapeños are eaten raw in foods like salsa, burrito bowls and tacos, any contamination may survive and end up infecting people. This is not the first time jalapeño peppers have been linked to a major Salmonella outbreak. In 2008, U.S. investigators traced an outbreak in multiple states that involved more than 1,400 illnesses linked primarily to contaminated jalapeño and serrano peppers imported from Mexico.Also read: Is Unpasteurized Apple Cider Making You Sick? Here's What You Should KnowChipotle's Previous Health Controversies       The latest investigation comes more than a decade after Chipotle faced a series of high-profile food safety incidents involving E. coli, norovirus and Salmonella between 2015 and 2018. Those outbreaks prompted the restaurant chain to overhaul its food safety protocols, strengthen ingredient traceability and establish stricter food handling practices. Officials stress that the current investigation is still underway, and no final determination has been made linking the outbreak exclusively to jalapeños. The FDA is currently conducting an investigation to determine where the suspected peppers originated and whether they were distributed to other restaurants or states.