This afternoon, popular restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a menu update. As a precautionary measure, it has temporarily removed jalapenos from all of its menus in Minnesota as well as some other areas. The jalapenos will be replaced with pepper varieties from a different grower.
Chipotle Menu Update: Chipotle’s Full Statement
Chipotle Mexican Grill put out a statement about its most recent update. “The health and safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority. We are aware that public health authorities are investigating the source of a salmonella outbreak in the supply chain impacting several food service retailers. We are cooperating with the public health authorities in their efforts,”, the statement read.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently probing one of the salmonella outbreaks and found that multiple patients who got sick ate at Chipotle.
The restaurant chain is fully co-operating with the probe. Jalapenos are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine so other restaurants may initiate similar recalls as a result. This is not the first time Chipotle has come under the scanner of American authorities over ingredient safety.
Chipotle Menu Update: Why Did Chipotle Remove Jalapenos From Its Menu?
Chipotle recalled jalapenos from its menus because the peppers are suspected to be the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 110 people in Minnesota.
Out of the 84 patients interviewed by investigators from the Minnesota Department of Health, 75 reported eating at Chipotle between mid-June and mid July.
However, the Mexican restaurant chain clarified that the recall is a precautionary measure, stating “Out of an abundance of caution, we proactively removed the jalapenos from our restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers,”.
Chipotle Jalapeno Recall: List of Affected States
So far, Chipotle’s jalapeno recall has been for all restaurants in Minnesota. However, a company spokesperson acknowledged that the specific contaminated lot of jalapeños was distributed to “several foodservice retailers across multiple states” . So the recall will likely be extended to other US states as well.
Chipotle Jalapeno Recall: Affected Menu Items
The jalapeno recall by Chipotle will likely affect the following menu items:
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Fresh Guacamole
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Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa
About Salmonella
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that occurs in all types of foods, ranging from processed nut butters to fresh fruits and vegetables. The bacteria causes salmonellosis, a disease which affects the human digestive tract. Common symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. With treatment, it can be cured within 4 to 7 days.
