FDA gives Whole Foods jalapeño recall highest-risk Class I rating as multistate Salmonella outbreak reaches 431 ill

The Food and Drug Administration has classified a recall of nearly 13,000 Whole Foods dips, salsas and guacamole products as Class I — its highest-risk level — over potential Salmonella contamination from jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which has been linked to a multistate outbreak that had sickened 431 people in 32 states as of Aug. 21.

The recall was first announced Aug. 12 and covers select guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa products sold online and in stores in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Among the recalled items are Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes, Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Medium Pico de Gallo Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Trio Dip and Whole Foods Mango Pineapple Salsa.

The FDA says the affected jalapeños were imported from Sinaloa, Mexico. A Class I classification means there is a 'reasonable probability' that consuming the recalled products could cause serious health consequences or even death, according to the agency. No illnesses have been reported specifically in connection with the Whole Foods products.

The broader outbreak, which the FDA says involved illness onset dates ranging from June 19 through Aug. 2, had resulted in 57 hospitalizations and no deaths as of Aug. 21, according to the agency. The CDC found that most people who fell ill had eaten at Mexican-style restaurants before becoming sick, including at Chipotle and QDOBA, according to earlier interviews cited in the source.

Both Chipotle and QDOBA pulled the affected jalapeños after being alerted to the outbreak. Federal health officials said there is no ongoing Salmonella risk tied to those restaurants. The FDA advises consumers to throw away recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

• The source does not state how many of the nearly 13,000 recalled units remain in consumers' hands or have been returned.
• The source does not state whether Coast Citrus Distributors has issued a response or comment regarding the outbreak.
• The source does not state whether Whole Foods Market has issued a statement beyond the initial recall announcement.
• The source does not state the specific Salmonella strain or serotype involved in the outbreak.
• The source does not state what testing or investigation led the FDA to link the jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, to the outbreak.
• The source does not state the current status of the FDA's investigation into Coast Citrus Distributors.

1. New York Post — original

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