ATLANTA, Georgia: U.S. health authorities are looking into a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers imported from Mexico, which has made 345 people ill across 27 states.

The investigation led the supplier, Coast Citrus Distributors, to recall peppers that had been sent to restaurants, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration reported that 36 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been recorded so far. Officials said the investigation is still ongoing as they work to trace the full extent of the outbreak.

According to the FDA, cases of illness were recorded between June 19 and July 20. Salmonella infections typically cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These infections can be more serious for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The outbreak has drawn attention at a time when food safety in the restaurant sector is already under close watch. This follows a recent cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States that prompted broader investigations and renewed concerns about how fresh produce is sourced and handled.

In that earlier case, the FDA and CDC linked the illnesses to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, which are owned by Yum Brands. Investigators later traced the source of the contaminated lettuce to operations run by Taylor Farms in central Mexico. On August 5, authorities expanded that investigation to cover 15 states.

Chipotle has faced food safety issues in the past, with earlier outbreaks affecting its sales and forcing the company to introduce stricter safety measures across its operations.

Health officials said the current Salmonella outbreak is linked to jalapeño peppers grown by a common producer in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors. The company agreed to recall any remaining products and began notifying customers who may have received the peppers.

The 27 states where jalapeño-linked Salmonella cases have been found are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The investigation found that several restaurant chains, including Chipotle and QDOBA, had received shipments of the affected jalapeños. In response, Chipotle switched to a different jalapeño supplier starting July 20. QDOBA stopped using jalapeños on July 28 and has since removed them from its menu.

Coast Citrus did not provide an immediate response when contacted for comment.

Following the developments, Chipotle's shares dropped by more than eight percent on August 4 after the company confirmed it had removed jalapeños from outlets in Minnesota and other locations that had received the product.

"FDA does not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from these establishments to consumers in this outbreak," the agency said in a statement.

The FDA also stated that Coast Citrus does not appear to have supplied the affected jalapeños directly to grocery stores. However, it advised both consumers and businesses not to eat, sell, or serve any recalled peppers originating from Sinaloa.