Qdoba removes jalapeños as salmonella outbreak spreads to 27 states

Restaurant chain Qdoba has followed Chipotle in removing jalapeños from its locations amid a salmonella outbreak that has affected at least 27 states, according to health officials.The Mexican fast-casual restaurant said Wednesday it was cooperating with public health authorities as they investigate the outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico. The peppers were distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesale and restaurants, including Qdoba and Chipotle, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said."Out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed jalapeños from all our restaurants at this time," The San Diego-based Qdoba said in a statement. "We take any report involving guest health seriously and are committed to responding appropriately based on the facts and guidance from public health authorities."At least 345 people across 27 states have been sickened with the strain of Salmonella Javiana linked to the jalapeños, 36 of whom been hospitalized, the CDC said Thursday.

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