Texas Jalapeno Salmonella Lawsuit

In August 2026, Taylor Farms and other companies recalled fresh jalapenos and products that were made with jalapenos after a Salmonella outbreak sickened hundreds of people.

Need a Texas Salmonella Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you got sick after eating jalapenos or other products that have been recalled for Salmonella, contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Information About This Outbreak

In August 2026, a recall was announced by Coast Citrus Distributors, a company based in San Diego, California that imported fresh jalapeno peppers that were grown in Mexico. Coast Citrus Distributors is a major supplier of fresh jalapeno ingredients to restaurants and grocery stores.

The outbreak was discovered when health officials began investigating clusters of people who were all diagnosed with a similar strain of Salmonella Javiana, which is an indicator of a common food-source. Interviews with sick people helped investigators pinpoint the source of the outbreak: jalapeno peppers.

In response to the recall from Coast Citrus Distributors, other companies who used those jalapeno peppers have announced their own recalls, including Taylor Fresh Foods, Albertsons, and more. In addition, restaurants like Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA have changed suppliers.

Information About the Taylor Farms Recall

Recalled by: Taylor Fresh Foods, Salinas, California
Recall date: August 9, 2026
Products: 20 salsas, guacamoles, dips, and prepared foods made with fresh jalapenos
Texas exposure: 16 of the 20 recalled products were distributed to Texas
Texas stores: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb
Dates: “Best if used by” August 7 through August 16, 2026
Pathogen: Salmonella Javiana, traced to a jalapeno grower in Sinaloa, Mexico
Outbreak size: 345 infections in 27 states including Texas, 36 hospitalizations
Official source: FDA recall notice

Taylor Farms Salsa and Guacamole Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

In August 2026, Taylor Fresh Foods voluntarily recalled 20 refrigerated products made with fresh jalapeno peppers. The peppers were supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which recalled its own jalapenos after they were linked to a a nationwide Salmonella outbreak.

The items were sent to stores in 26 states. According to the company, no illnesses have been reported to it so far in connection with the products containing jalapenos. The recalled products have date-codes between August 7 and August 16, 2026.

Why Texas Shoppers Face the Highest Exposure

Taylor Farms broke down its recall state-by-state, and Texas is on the list more often than any other state. Of the 20 recalled products, 16 were distributed to Texas stores.

Three products were shipped to Texas and no other state at all, including:

Target Pico de Gallo (16 ounce tub)
Target Authentic Guacamole (13 ounce tub)
Trader Joe’s Fiesta Style Salad Shrimp

Every one of the 6 recalled Whole Foods salsas were distributed in Texas, along with Kroger cheese dips, the Kroger Private Selection roast beef sandwich, 5 Target items, and a Walmart pico de gallo product.

How Did Health Officials Discover This Outbreak?

Out of 191 people who were interviewed, 177 said they ate food at a Mexican-style restaurant before they got sick. Health officials identified 27 separate illness clusters at Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA locations in 7 states. Further laboratory analysis using whole genome sequencing showed the bacteria from sick people were closely related. From there, the FDA traced the jalapeno distribution chain to a single grower in Sinaloa, Mexico. Chipotle changed suppliers on July 20, 2026, and QDOBA stopped serving the peppers on July 28, 2026.

What Is the Salmonella Risk?

The outbreak strain is Salmonella Javiana. The illness typically causes symptoms within a few hours to a few days of eating contaminated food. Healthy adults typically recover in about a week.

The FDA warns that Salmonella can produce serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. In this outbreak, 12 percent of patients with available information were hospitalized. Symptoms include:

Diarrhea, sometimes bloody
Fever
Stomach cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Dehydration, including reduced urination, dry mouth, and dizziness

In a small share of cases the bacteria escape the intestines and enter the bloodstream, which is when a food poisoning case becomes a hospitalization.

Which Products Are Affected?

These are the recalled products distributed to Texas:

Target Pico de Gallo, 16 oz, UPC 030223073536 — Texas only
Target Authentic Guacamole, 13 oz, UPC 030223073567 — Texas only
Trader Joe’s Fiesta Style Salad Shrimp, 11.11 oz, UPC 000000818377 — Texas only
Target Taco Dip, 20 oz, UPC 030223073581
Target Mango Pico de Gallo, 11 oz, UPC 030223073543
Target Spicy Guacamole, 13 oz, UPC 030223073574
Walmart Freshness Guaranteed Mild Pico de Gallo, 10 oz, UPC 681131276344
Whole Foods Salsa Fresca Medium, 12 oz, UPC 030223075080
Whole Foods Salsa Roja Medium, 12 oz, UPC 030223075646
Whole Foods Salsa Verde Mild, 12 oz, UPC 030223075639
Whole Foods Pico de Gallo Mild, 10 oz, UPC 030223075097
Whole Foods Pico de Gallo Spicy, 10 oz, UPC 030223075608
Whole Foods Pineapple Mango Salsa Mild, 10 oz, UPC 030223073653
Kroger Spicy Jarlsberg Dip, 10 oz, UPC 030223114826
Kroger Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip, 10 oz, UPC 030223116448
Kroger Private Selection Spicy Roast Beef Sandwich, 8.53 oz, UPC 011110678171

Where Were They Sold in Texas?

The recalled items were sold at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s stores in Texas. Several products were packaged under store-brands rather than the Taylor Farms label.

How Many People in Texas Got Sick?

Texas is one of the 27 states in this outbreak. Federal health officials have not released a state by state breakdown, so the confirmed number of Texas patients has not been made public.

Nationally the CDC has confirmed 345 infections and 36 hospitalizations as of August 4, 2026, with illness onset dates running from June 19 to July 20. The agency has stated the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported.

Previous Taylor Farms Outbreaks and Recalls

This is the second Taylor Farms produce outbreak of the summer. Its Mexican operation, Taylor Farms de Mexico, recalled its entire central Mexico iceberg lettuce supply on July 17, 2026 in response to an outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses.

Our firm is separately investigating the broader jalapeno pepper Salmonella outbreak for Texans who got sick after eating at restaurants rather than at home.

Legal Help for Salmonella Victims in Texas

A serious Salmonella infection can be life-threatening. It can mean an emergency room visit, IV fluids, weeks of missed work, and thousands of dollars in medical bills, and for a child or an older parent, it can be deadly.

Texans who got sick from a recalled product may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. A Texas food poisoning lawyer can review what happened and explain your options. Time limits apply, so do not wait to explore your rights.

Need a Texas Salmonella Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.