Jalapeno peppers are pictured in Encinitas, California, July 22, 2008. Photo by Reuters
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said 36 hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported, while the investigation remains ongoing.
FDA said illnesses began between June 19 and July 20. Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps and can be particularly severe in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak comes amid heightened scrutiny of food safety in the restaurant industry following a recent U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak that prompted investigations by health authorities and renewed concerns about produce supply chains.
The FDA and the CDC linked that outbreak to lettuce served at Yum Brands' Taco Bell restaurants and later identified Taylor Farms' operations in central Mexico as the source of the lettuce. On Wednesday, the agencies expanded the cyclosporiasis probe to 15 U.S. states.
