The federal agency is investigating four active outbreaks linked to food and animal contact.
As of September 25, Salmonella and E coli infections tied to sprouts, jalapeño peppers, and pet turtles have sickened at least 538 people combined across dozens of states.¹⁻⁴ The largest, a Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers, accounts for more than 430 of those cases alone.¹
Overlapping foodborne outbreaks complicate diagnostic workup for clinicians, since patients presenting with diarrheal illness this fall may have been exposed to more than one recalled product. Prompt stool culture and reporting to state health departments help investigators distinguish between concurrent outbreak strains. All four investigations remain open, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to update case counts as new illnesses are reported.
CDC reports 431 Salmonella cases linked to jalapeño peppers as of August 21, 2026, including 86 new cases and 57 hospitalizations across 32 states.¹ The peppers were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors before being used in burritos, bowls, guacamole, pico de gallo, sandwiches, salsa, salads, soup mix, stuffed mushrooms, and condiments sold through restaurants and food service operations.¹ No deaths have been reported, and the investigation remains open.¹
Multiple recalls remain in effect for products made with the implicated peppers, and the FDA and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service continue to update affected product lists as retailers and restaurants pull recalled inventory.¹
A separate outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts has sickened 55 people across 15 states, with 4 hospitalizations and no deaths reported as of September 1, 2026.² The outbreak involves two pathogens, Salmonella and E coli, and at least two patients have tested positive for both.² Everything Sprouts LLC recalled alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands on August 22, then expanded the recall on August 28 to include Robust Radish Sprout Mix over possible cross-contamination.²
CDC states this outbreak does not appear related to the separate Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts, despite both involving sprouted seed products traced to different growers.² Because two pathogens are involved, clinicians should order stool testing capable of detecting both Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in patients with a relevant sprout exposure history.
We have started a new short series around how the federal agencies operate the food safety surveillance system including its infrastructure, protocols, and funding.
Check out our the first piece in the series:
How The Food Safety Surveillance Infrastructure Works in the US
CDC has linked 32 Salmonella cases, including 10 new cases, to broccoli sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC as of September 24, 2026.³ Three people have been hospitalized, and 6 states have reported cases, 2 of them new.³ The recalled sprouts were sold to food co-ops, restaurants, and grocery stores in Idaho, Montana, and Washington in plastic bags or clamshell containers with expiration dates between September 7 and September 16, though CDC notes the product may have reached additional states through further distribution.³
CDC states this outbreak does not appear related to the separate Salmonella and E coli outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts, despite the similarity in product type.³ State health officials in Montana and Washington are assisting with the trace-back investigation, according to CDC.³
A fourth active investigation links 20 Salmonella cases, including 12 new cases, to contact with pet turtles, with 5 hospitalizations and no deaths as of September 18, 2026.⁴ Twelve states have reported cases, 6 of them new, and half of those sickened are children younger than 5 years old.⁴ Federal law bans the sale of turtles with shells shorter than 4 inches because of the elevated Salmonella risk to young children, though CDC notes these turtles are still sometimes sold illegally.⁴
Unlike the three sprout- and pepper-linked outbreaks, no recall applies here, since the exposure comes from animal contact rather than a specific product lot. CDC recommends thorough handwashing after handling turtles or their habitats and advises against keeping turtles in households with children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, or immunocompromised individuals.⁴
Clinicians evaluating patients with diarrheal illness this fall should ask about recent consumption of sprouts, peppers, and prepared foods containing them, as well as any recent contact with pet turtles, given the overlapping active investigations. Stool culture with reflex testing helps distinguish Salmonella from Shiga toxin-producing E coli, which carries added risk for hemolytic uremic syndrome, particularly in young children. Suspected and confirmed cases should be reported promptly to state or local health departments, since case reporting is what allows CDC to link illnesses across states to a common source.
Patients should be counseled to discard any recalled sprout or pepper products rather than attempt to cook away contamination. Reptile-owning households with young children, older adults, or immunocompromised members should be counseled on the specific Salmonella risks pet turtles carry, independent of any single outbreak.
