Recall of half a million soups, dips and salsas classed as highest risk level… ‘reasonable probability of death’
A recall of more than half a million products has been upgraded to the FDA’s highest level over concerns an ingredient in the foods is contaminated with a life-threatening bacteria.
The recall was first issued on August 8, but was not classed at the time. On September 16, the FDA classified it as Class I, indicating ‘a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC, with facilities located in Missouri City and Houston, Texas, voluntarily recalled 18 products containing jalapeño peppers supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors due to the potential for contamination with salmonella.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration – symptoms that require medical attention, particularly for children under five, adults over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
The original recall applied to NatureBest Soup Mix, various HEB Pico de Gallo mixes, NatureBest Mild Cheddar & Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms, various NatureBest Pico de Gallo mixes, HEB Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Mushrooms, NatureBest Diced Jalapeno, and HEB Diced Jalapeno.
The new classification applies to 62,856 cases each of eight products, including the soup mix, pico de gallo mixes, jalapeno peppers, stuffed mushrooms and a HEB guacamole kit.
The products were distributed throughout Texas and Louisiana between July 3 and August 5, 2026. They have best by or use by dates ranging from July 13 to August 15, 2026.
The recall was initiated after NatureBest was notified by Coast Citrus Distributors that certain jalapeno peppers supplied by the company were subject to a recall.
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC, with facilities located in Missouri City and Houston, Texas , voluntarily recalled 18 products containing jalapeño peppers supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors due to the potential for contamination with salmonella (stock image)
The potentially contaminated jalapenos have sparked recalls across the country from various companies, distributors and grocers.
The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to jalapeno peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
The CDC reports 431 cases of salmonella across 32 states tied to jalapenos grown in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, along with 57 hospitalizations.
No deaths have been recorded.
NatureBest Precut & Produce LLC has stopped distributing the products and consumers are urged to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
The CDC estimates that salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the US each year.
While most cases resolve with supportive care – primarily hydration and rest – the bacteria’s ability to survive stomach acid and invade intestinal cells makes it a powerful pathogen.
In severe cases, the infection can escalate beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
When salmonella enters the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, it can travel to other parts of the body and cause secondary infections.
These can include endocarditis, or infection of the heart valves; osteomyelitis, or bone infection; meningitis, or an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; or septic arthritis, a joint infection.
These invasive infections are particularly dangerous and require prompt treatment with antibiotics, often administered intravenously in a hospital setting.
Invasive salmonellosis can also lead to long-term complications, even after the initial infection resolves.
The classification applies to a soup mix, pico de gallo mixes, jalapeno peppers, stuffed mushrooms and a guacamole kit (stock image)
The above is a CDC map of where people sickened in the outbreak linked to jalapenos live
Some people develop reactive arthritis, a condition characterized by joint pain, eye inflammation, and painful urination that can persist for months or even years.
Others may experience post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with chronic digestive issues stemming from the damage the bacteria caused to the intestinal lining during the acute phase of illness.
Salmonella is resilient. It can survive on surfaces for weeks and is resistant to certain environmental stresses, making it difficult to eliminate completely from food manufacturing facilities.
Because contaminated foods look, smell and taste completely normal, the only way to protect consumers is to remove them from the supply chain before they can be eaten.
