Spring-area H-E-B shoppers should check their refrigerators. Dozens of jalapeño-containing products sold at the grocery chain have been recalled over potential salmonella contamination, and items purchased before the pull may still be in customers' homes.
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC, which operates facilities in Houston and Missouri City, voluntarily recalled products containing jalapeño peppers on Aug. 8. The FDA posted the notice on Friday, Aug. 14. The recall covers products distributed in Texas and Louisiana between July 3 and Aug. 5, with best-by dates running through Aug. 15.
The affected H-E-B-branded products include pico de gallo (mild, medium, hot and mango varieties in 14-ounce containers), jalapeño popper stuffed mushrooms and diced jalapeños. H-E-B also pulled more than 30 additional products made in its stores using the recalled peppers, including multiple guacamole varieties, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, jalapeño pimento cheese spreads, deli cheese balls, Meal Simple snack trays and sandwich wraps, Hill Country Fare tortas and Soup Caldo Kits.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a separate public health alert on Aug. 8 covering H-E-B meat and poultry products containing the recalled jalapeños, including Shake Rattle Bowl Southwest Chicken, Higher Harvest Chicken & Beef Chimichurri and Meal Simple Pork Carnitas Bowl.
An H-E-B spokesperson told MySA the company "voluntarily removed bulk jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors as well as all products related to supplier recalls that included the impacted jalapeños as an ingredient."
The chain said all recalled items have been removed from shelves and that products currently available in stores are safe. Customers who purchased affected products can return them for a full refund.
What triggered the recall
The recall traces back to a multistate Salmonella Javiana outbreak. The CDC confirmed 345 infections across 27 states as of Aug. 4, with 36 hospitalizations and no deaths. Texas is among the affected states. FDA traceback identified jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, supplied through San Diego importer Coast Citrus Distributors, as the likely source.
Of 191 people the CDC interviewed, 177 (93%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill. No illness has been publicly tied to any NatureBest product specifically; the recall is precautionary. The broader jalapeño recall wave has also affected products from Whole Foods, Costco, Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe's and other national retailers.
This is a separate recall from the Albertsons-brand salad recall at Randalls stores we reported Aug. 9. That involved a different retailer, producer and product category.
How to check your products
Shoppers can identify recalled items by checking the UPC on the back of the package. Recalled lot codes run 190A26184 through 190A26216. Salmonella contamination does not change the look, smell or taste of food. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, typically appearing 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Children under 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face greater risk of severe illness.
Consumers can contact NatureBest at (713) 278-0425, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, or H-E-B at 855-432-4438, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. The FDA is updating its outbreak investigation page as the inquiry continues.
