Salmonella clue points to jalapenos

Bacteria found on Mexican pepper at plant in Texas

Associated Press

July 22, 2008

WASHINGTON - Government inspectors finally have a big clue in the nationwide salmonella outbreak: They found the same bacteria on a single Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper handled by a small Texas produce shipper.

Yesterday's discovery doesn't solve the mystery, however, because authorities don't know whether the pepper became tainted on the farm, in the plant in McAllen, Texas, or at a stop in between.

Nor are they saying that the tainted pepper exonerates tomatoes sold in the spring, which, until last week, consumers had been told were the prime suspect.

Still, "this genetic match is a very important break in the case," said Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief.

The government is advising consumers to avoid eating fresh jalapenos or products made with them, such as fresh salsa. Tomatoes on the market are considered safe to eat, health officials have said since last week.

The Texas plant, Agricola Zaragosa, has agreed to recall its fresh jalapenos. The FDA wouldn't say how widely its produce was distributed. It is not considered a major processor, and it is unclear how far into the United States peppers traveling through the small plant near the Mexican border would have been sent, something the FDA still is working to determine.

It also is unclear whether the produce distributor ever handled tomatoes. No other produce at the plant has tested positive for salmonella, Acheson said.

"I recognize there is a need to narrow this as soon as possible," Acheson said. Parts of the country are entering prime hot pepper season.

A person who answered the phone at Agricola Zaragosa said no one was available to comment.

With 1,251 confirmed cases in 43 states - and a few among Canadians who had traveled in the United States - the outbreak isn't over, said Dr. Robert Tauxe of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the CDC said last week that the outbreak appeared to be slowing. The last time anyone fell ill was July 4.