USDA alerts consumers to Salmonella risk in meat and poultry products

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella, after the FDA notified the agency that multiple establishments had received a recalled ingredient. 

No confirmed illnesses linked to the affected products have been reported. Consumers who have purchased any of the listed products are advised not to eat them and to return them to the place of purchase or discard them. Retailers are urged not to serve or sell them.

The agency said it expects additional downstream products to be identified as the ingredient recall progresses and will update the alert as more information becomes available. A full list of affected products is available on the FSIS website.

Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever within six hours to six days of consuming contaminated food. Most people recover without treatment, though older adults, infants and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness.