3 weeks ago
Qdoba Pulls Jalapeños as Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Hundreds Nationwide
Some people got very sick from a type of bacteria called salmonella.
The sickness can cause diarrhea, fever, tummy aches, and throwing up.
More than 300 people have gotten sick across the United States so far.
Qdoba and Chipotle, two restaurant chains, worried that jalapeño peppers might be making people sick.
They took the jalapeños out of their restaurants to keep customers safe.
Both companies are helping health officials find where the bad peppers came from.
Minnesota and Colorado each reported 110 sick people.
No one has publicly named the supplier of the bad peppers yet.
Health officials say the same food may have been served at other restaurants, so the investigation is still going on.
Salmonella makes about 1.35 million people sick in the US every year, which is why officials take it seriously.
Qdoba Restaurant Corp. proactively removed jalapeños from all of its more than 800 locations while cooperating with US authorities investigating the outbreak.
The salmonella javiana outbreak has sickened more than 300 people, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, which began investigating multiple ingredients on July 22.
Minnesota and Colorado have each reported 110 cases in the outbreak, and no supplier has been publicly identified.
Chipotle Mexican Grill removed jalapeños from multiple stores in Minnesota after its ingredient traceability system identified a common lot as a potential link.
Minnesota health officials said evidence so far suggests the contaminated food was served at other restaurants as well, not just Chipotle.
The FDA and CDC are also tracking a separate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands across 47 states, including more than 12,000 illnesses and two deaths in Michigan.
- Who
- Qdoba Restaurant Corp. and Chipotle Mexican Grill, cooperating with US public health authorities including the FDA and CDC; Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologist Carlota Medus commented on the investigation.
- What
- Restaurant chains removed jalapeños from stores as a precaution while authorities investigate a salmonella javiana outbreak that has sickened more than 300 people.
- Where
- Across the United States, with Minnesota and Colorado each reporting 110 cases and Chipotle removing jalapeños from multiple stores in Minnesota.
- When
- The FDA began investigating multiple ingredients on July 22; Chipotle disclosed its finding in a regulatory filing on a Wednesday, and Qdoba announced its pull shortly afterward.
- Why
- Jalapeños were identified as a potential link to the outbreak, so chains removed them out of an abundance of caution to protect consumers while the investigation continues.
Consumer Caution
Business Continuity
Restaurant risk during outbreak
Consumer Caution
Consumers should stay informed about outbreak advisories and be cautious, since evidence suggests contaminated food was served at other restaurants beyond Chipotle.
Business Continuity
Restaurants that take proactive safety measures, such as removing potentially contaminated ingredients, are less likely to pose a risk to diners.
Key facts
- Outbreak strain
- Salmonella javiana
- Reported cases
- More than 300 people sickened
- Qdoba locations
- More than 800 restaurants; jalapeños pulled from all
- Minnesota cases
- 110
- Colorado cases
- 110
- FDA investigation start
- July 22
- Chipotle action
- Removed jalapeños from multiple Minnesota stores
- Supplier identified
- None publicly identified
Quotes
Qdoba Restaurant Corp. spokesperson
Representative of Qdoba Restaurant Corp.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed jalapeños from all our restaurants at this time.”
livemint.com
Carlota Medus
Senior epidemiologist supervisor, Minnesota Department of Health Foodborne Diseases Unit
“Based on all the evidence so far, the food that made people sick was served at other restaurants as well.”
livemint.com
Sources
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