That scoop of guac may be more dangerous than your tortilla chips let on.
The Food and Drug Administration has slapped its highest-risk classification on a recall of nearly 13,000 Whole Foods dips, salsas and guacamole products over potential Salmonella contamination.
First announced Aug. 12, the recall covers products made with jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which has been tied to a multistate Salmonella outbreak.
The FDA says the affected jalapeños were imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, and has now classified the Whole Foods recall as Class I.
This means there is a “reasonable probability” that consuming the recalled products could cause serious health consequences or even death.
Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported specifically in connection with the Whole Foods products.
But the broader outbreak is no small side dish: As of Aug. 21, 431 people in 32 states have fallen ill, 57 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, as per the FDA.
The outbreak has been traced to fresh jalapeños distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, which supplied restaurants, retailers and other food-service companies around the country.
The Whole Foods recall covers select dips, guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa products sold online and in stores across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
Among the recalled items are:
- Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip
- Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes
- Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip
- Whole Foods Medium Pico de Gallo Guacamole Dip
- Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip
- Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip
- Whole Foods Trio Dip, containing pico de gallo, guacamole and salsa
- Whole Foods Mango Pineapple Salsa
The FDA has published the full list of recalled products and identifying codes as part of its ongoing investigation.
The Whole Foods recall is one piece of a much larger investigation into Salmonella linked to contaminated jalapeños.
According to the FDA, illnesses have been reported with onset dates ranging from June 19 through Aug. 2.
In earlier interviews, the CDC found that most people sickened had eaten at Mexican-style restaurants before falling ill, including at Chipotle and QDOBA.
Both chains pulled the affected chili peppers after being alerted to the outbreak, and federal health officials say there’s no ongoing Salmonella risk tied to the restaurants.
As previously reported by The Post, salmonella is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Illness typically begins 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and can last from four to seven days.
Most people recover, but young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious illness.
And there’s an especially nasty catch: contaminated food can look, smell and taste completely normal.
Ultimately, if you have any of the recalled products in your refrigerator, don’t eat them.
The FDA advises consumers to throw away recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
