Fresh jalapeño peppers are making headlines again for potential contamination with the Salmonella pathogen, a dangerous, sometimes deadly, food borne contaminant.
Castellini Group of Cos., located in Newport, Kentucky, recalled jalapeños following routine testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Testing revealed that a sample of jalapeño peppers tested positive for Salmonella, according to Libby Korosec, a Castellini spokesperson, said The Packer.
The source of the Salmonella contamination has not been confirmed, said Korosec, and no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall as of March 26. It is important to note, however, that it can take some time from ingestion of a Salmonella-contaminated food or beverage for symptoms to manifest.
Castellini has contacted customers and quarantined or destroyed specific jalapeño peppers that have not yet been distributed, Korosec said, wrote The Packer.
The recalled jalapeños are distributed in 2-, 10-, and 40-count packs and were shipped to five divisions of Rosemont, Illinois-based U.S. Foods from March 9 through March 24, according to media reports, The Packer noted. According to those reports, packages that could be contaminated bear the name Professional Produce of Florida/South Florida Produce and may include the following lot numbers:
1977434, 1977911, 1978565, 1976393, 1976549, 1976551, 1977220, 1977514, 1977845, 1978122, 1978125, 1978930, 1976774, 1976786, 1977289, 1977310, 1977906, 1977913, 1978563, 1978574, 1979025, 1979034, 1976509, 1977743, 1978618, 280104C07.
Korosec would not confirm this information, said The Packer.
The most common symptoms of Salmonella poisoning—salmonellosis—are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever, with symptoms manifesting, usually, within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms include chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days. The illness usually lasts four to seven days; however, in some, the organism can invade the bloodstream, becoming so severe that hospitalization is required.
Sometimes, infection with the Salmonella pathogen can result in, and produce more severe or chronic illnesses.
Salmonella, can be dangerous, sometimes deadly, leaving sufferers with serious life-long health issues. Salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial food borne illnesses, can be especially life threatening to those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or who are undergoing chemotherapy.
