Salmonella Outbreak Hits Montana With 5 Reported Cases

Montana has landed on the list of Salmonella outbreaks related to jalapeño peppers, which caused 700+ illnesses across 25 U.S. states.

According to local health authorities, five cases of individuals infected with Salmonella here in Montana directly relate to a national outbreak associated with jalapeños produced in Sinaloa, Mexico. Those jalapeños were then distributed to multiple restaurant locations throughout the United States. Two of the large restaurant chain franchises (Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDoba), which received these contaminated jalapeños, immediately discontinued their use or changed vendors.

Philip Guerette Photography

While it's nice to know that this outbreak seems to be limited to jalapeno peppers provided to restaurants, it doesn't necessarily mean that the product found in local grocery stores would be safe either. Meaning you may want to hold off on making poppers for a few weeks.

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What Montanans Need to Know About Salmonella Illness

Salmonella is generally something you wouldn’t want hanging around your burrito. Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These symptoms usually start within a couple of days (but could take longer), and most people will get better on their own. However, young children, elderly individuals, and others with compromised immune systems tend to be at higher risk for developing severe complications due to a Salmonella infection.

a person cutting vegetables on a cutting board

As always, consumers should avoid purchasing or consuming any products that have been identified as potentially causing contamination. Consumers should also stay up-to-date on the latest developments regarding this recall. In my case, I’ll probably pass on the jalapenos for a little while. That’s hard for me to admit because in many ways, I believe there are few things in life that can't be made better with jalapeños. But clearly, salmonella is one exception.