Chipotle removes jalapeños amid US salmonella outbreak investigation

Restaurant chain pulls peppers ‘out of an abundance of caution’ as salmonella outbreak sickens 110 people

Chipotle said on Tuesday ⁠it had removed jalapeños from some of the chain’s restaurants after identifying ⁠the peppers as ⁠a ​potential ingredient tied to a salmonella outbreak, replacing them ⁠with supplies from different growers.

The company said it ​began tracing ‌ingredients through its supply ‌chain after learning of a ‌potential outbreak and identified jalapeños from a common lot as a possible source.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we proactively removed the jalapeños from ‌our restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers,” ​Chipotle said, adding that it was cooperating with public health authorities investigating the outbreak.

Shares of Chipotle fell 7% in Tuesday-⁠afternoon trading.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bloomberg News ⁠reported the company had removed jalapeños from ​multiple ​stores in Minnesota ​after learning the peppers may be ​linked ‌to a ​salmonella ​outbreak in the state that has sickened 110 people.

That outbreak is separate from one centering on cases of cyclosporiasis – an intestinal illness – that has affected nine states. The cyclosporiasis outbreak had sickened more than 6,700 people nationwide, including two in Michigan who died.

An FDA investigation linked the cyclosporiasis outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from privately held Taylor Farms ⁠operations in central Mexico, but authorities are still looking for other potential sources.