Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Federal health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños that has sickened 345 people in 27 states.
No deaths have been reported in the outbreak that began June 19 based on the earliest reported illness onset. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday in a statement that there have been 36 hospitalizations.
The last known illness onset date was July 20.
The outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections has been linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and that were distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurants, including Mexican-style restaurants, as well as food service companies in the United States.
According to the FDA, of the 191 patients interviewed, 171 reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, between June 14 and July 14.
