Company Under The Spotlight Issues Recall For Over A Dozen Products, Including Salsa

Taylor Farms issued a recall Aug. 9 for its prepared food products containing jalapeno, including salsa and guacamole, amid concerns of a multi-state Salmonella outbreak, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall follows a voluntary recall of fresh jalapenos initiated by Coast Citrus Distributors due to potential Salmonella contamination, according to an official recall notice published by the FDA. Coast Citrus Distributors receives produce from Sinaloa, Mexico, where the Salmonella outbreak is believed to have originated.

Taylor Farms “is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers,” according to the FDA recall notice. The recall affects multiple prepared products, including the company’s 3.75-ounce diced jalapenos, 12.5-ounce rice and bean burrito, 10 -ounce spicy pimento cheese dip, 20-ounce taco dip, 13-ounce authentic guacamole, and more.

The recalled products were distributed to Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods stores in 25 states, including Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, New York, South Carolina, and Texas. In addition, the recalled products were distributed to Hannaford, a Maine-based supermarket chain, according to Reuters.

The Aug. 9 recall is not the first recall for Taylor Farms.

On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico issued a voluntary recall of products containing iceberg lettuce originating from Mexico amid a cyclospora outbreak, The Hill reported. The FDA has reported more than 6,300 cases of cyclospora across 15 states, according to the outlet.

The FDA said on July 19 that a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms tested falsely positive for cyclospora, according to NBC News. The sample was not taken from lettuce that had already been recalled by the company, but from a separate shipment obtained by the FDA during an inspection.

Taylor Fresh Foods Recalls Products Made With Jalapeno Peppers Because of Possible Health Risk https://t.co/BCUkUlCT0R pic.twitter.com/9WtbVYTSoX

A total of 345 people across 27 states have contracted Salmonella, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an Aug. 5 statement. Of the 345 people infected, 177 individuals reported eating food at Chipotle or Qdoba between June 14 and July 14. Illnesses were noted between June 19 and July 20, with 36 individuals hospitalized and no deaths reported, according to the CDC. (RELATED: Big Food Is Creating Fake Health Groups To Confuse Consumers)

The outbreak is currently under investigation by the CDC and the FDA.

Symptoms of Salmonella include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, according to the FDA. Children under five years old, elderly individuals, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe infections.

In rare cases, Salmonella can be fatal, according to the FDA. If the infection enters the bloodstream, individuals can experience arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.