Salmonella Found on Jalapeno

Author: Madeline Ellis

In what one official called a "significant break" in the ongoing search for the source of a salmonella outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced they have found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with the same strain that has sickened 1,251 people. While the agency had previously discouraged people at high risk—the elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems—from eating Serrano and jalapeno peppers, they are now extending the warning to all consumers. "While this one sample does not give us the whole story, this genetic break is very important," said Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases. "This will hopefully help us pinpoint the source of this outbreak."

The pepper was imported from Mexico and was found at a McAllen, Texas distribution center. The FDA has suspended distribution of the jalapeno peppers and the supplier, Agricola Zaragoza, Inc., is recalling jalapeno peppers distributed since June 30, 2008 because of their potential to be tainted with the bacteria. But there are many questions left unanswered. Investigators still have to pinpoint where the pepper became contaminated. "It could have occurred in the facility or at some point leading up to the facility," Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA said in a telephone briefing, according to Reuters.

According to the FDA news release, the jalapeno peppers were distributed to customers in Georgia and Texas and were shipped in 35 lb. plastic crates and in 50 lb. bags with no brand name or label. The agency is urging consumers and retailers who purchased these peppers to contact their supplier to determine if their products are involved in the recall and are asking commercial manufacturers that may have used these recalled peppers as an ingredient in other products to contact their local FDA office to determine if their products should be recalled. They are also asking restaurants and retail food stores that have used these peppers as a garnish or as an ingredient to their products to dispose of the peppers and the products to make sure the peppers are not inadvertently consumed.

This latest development comes just days after the FDA determined that it is now safe to eat certain raw red tomatoes. However, the warning was not lifted because tomatoes have been cleared as the source, but because any that may have been contaminated are no longer being sold. The FDA says it is still investigating fresh tomatoes and contends that there is a possibility that tomatoes were paired with another food that was contaminated.

The guarded optimism of health officials was clouded over by criticism by consumer groups and legislators, who are urging the adoption of a produce-identification system with a barcode that can be traced through the supply chain. "The fact that it has taken over 14 weeks to identify the source of the contamination is simply unacceptable," Representative Diana DeGette said in a statement. "Much like the tomato industry, the result is a blanket warning that will decimate the entire industry and further depress consumer confidence when only a tiny fraction of peppers may be contaminated