August 10, 20262 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmThis summer has been marked by multiple outbreaks of food-borne illness, with thousands of infections and two deaths due to cyclosporiasis and hundreds of cases of SalmonellaBy Adam Kovac edited by Claire CameronJalapeno chilli, Capsicum annuum. Green chillies for sale in the market. Mexico, Veracruz, Papantla. Photo by FlowerPhotos/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesTaylor Farms, the produce distributor linked to the ongoing nationwide cyclosporiasis crisis, has issued a voluntary recall of products containing jalapeño peppers amid an outbreak of Salmonella. On Sunday, Taylor Farms said the recall was initiated after receiving notice that Coast Citrus Distributors, which supplies Taylor Farms with jalapeños, had issued its own recall. The jalapeños were sourced from a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico; Taylor Farms said it was no longer getting products from that farmer and had turned to alternative suppliers.The recall includes 20 food items distributed at retailers that include Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Whole Foods, among others. They include several varieties of dips, guacamoles and salsas.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.“To date, Taylor Fresh Foods is not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapeños,” the company said in a statement, which contains the full list of recalled items.The recall days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert on August 5, warning that Salmonella had been detected in 27 states and resulted in 345 cases and 36 hospitalizations but no deaths. Two national restaurant chains, Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, which had received peppers from Coast Citrus Distributors, stopped serving the jalapeños.It’s been a summer marked by outbreaks of food borne illnesses, and Taylor Farms has been implicated in the two most notable. The produce supplier had already been identified as a source of lettuce contaminated with cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that has sickened more than 10,000 people, resulting in 517 hospitalizations and two confirmed deaths since May 1. Over 12,000 other possible cases have not been confirmed with laboratory testing, according to the CDC.Salmonella is a foodborne illness that can, much like cyclosporiasis, cause diarrhea and both infections can occur after consuming water or food contaminated with infected human feces. But they are different: Salmonella is a bacterial illness, and in some cases can be treated with antibiotics.It’s Time to Stand Up for ScienceIf you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.