FDA Gives Whole Foods Guacamole Recall Its Most Serious Warning After Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Hundreds

The Food and Drug Administration has raised the risk level for a Whole Foods recall involving nearly 13,000 dips, salsas, guacamole products and other prepared foods to its highest classification after investigators linked contaminated jalapeños to a multistate Salmonella outbreak.

The recall began Aug. 12 and involves products made with jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors. As of Aug. 21, the outbreak had sickened 431 people in 32 states and sent 57 to the hospital, according to the FDA. No deaths have been reported.

The FDA has classified the Whole Foods recall as Class I, meaning there is a reasonable probability that eating an affected product could cause serious health problems or death. The agency has not reported any illnesses specifically connected to the recalled Whole Foods products.

The Jalapeños Are at the Center of the Investigation

The affected peppers were imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurants, retailers and other food service businesses around the country. Investigators have linked the peppers to illnesses reported between June 19 and Aug. 2.

The outbreak has reached far beyond grocery store prepared foods. Earlier in the investigation, the CDC found that many sick people had eaten at Mexican style restaurants before developing symptoms. Chipotle and QDOBA removed the affected jalapeños from their restaurants after receiving warnings from health officials.

Whole Foods sold the recalled products in stores and online across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.

The list includes Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes, Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip and Whole Foods Medium Pico de Gallo Guacamole Dip. The recall also includes Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip, Whole Foods Trio Dip and Whole Foods Mango Pineapple Salsa.

The FDA has posted product codes and other identifying information for the recalled foods. Consumers should check those details against the products they purchased to see whether anything is affected.

The Class I designation is an important distinction from the outbreak itself. It signals the potential danger of the recalled foods if they contain Salmonella, rather than establishing that the Whole Foods products caused any of the illnesses under investigation.

What to Do With Recalled Guacamole

If you have a recalled product, don’t eat it. The FDA recommends throwing it away or returning it to the store for a refund.

There is no reliable way to spot Salmonella by looking at food. Contaminated products can look, smell and taste completely normal, so consumers should check the recall information rather than relying on whether a container of guacamole seems fresh.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually start 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and can last four to seven days.

Most people recover, but infections can become more serious for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Anyone who develops symptoms after eating a recalled product should contact a health care provider for guidance.

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