Current Salmonella Outbreaks and Recalls (2026)
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Information about the Current Salmonella Outbreaks and Recalls (2026)
Last Updated 8/14/22026
I keep hearing about Salmonella. Every year, the CDC reports some Salmonella outbreaks. What makes this year so different is that the outbreak is spreading faster than in prior years. Additionally, where there are normally 2-3 "clusters" or sources like chicken, specific fruits, a particular vegetable, or turtles, this year, there have been at least twelve of these clusters, many of which are different, unrelated serotypes. Each serotype behaves differently in terms of symptoms, resistance to treatment, transmissibility, etc. And they have NOT come from a shared source.
This year, the main Salmonella outbreaks specifically concern backyard poultry, eggshells, jalapeños, a moringa supplement, and turtles.
The CDC is managing:
8 backyard‑poultry outbreaks (5-7 unnamed hatcheries)
a shell‑egg outbreak
a jalapeño outbreak
a moringa supplement outbreak
a turtle outbreak (more cases and different serotypes)
Let's look at these strains a bit closer. Where are they being found??
Jalapeño peppers→ restaurant clusters. These jalapeños were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed in the U.S. by Coast Citrus Distributors. Many jalapeño products have been and are being recalled from restaurants and stores in the U.S., including Taylor Farms (remember cyclosporiasis?) because they use those jalapeños in their salsas and guacamoles.(see below). Salmonella typically comes from feces (poop) and typically comes from the environment, such as groundwater, contaminated soil, contaminated hands, livestock or bird feces, and other sources of feces.
Poultry Outbreaks → Case counts of Salmonella from chickens are significantly higher than normal. People catch this FROM HANDLING, NOT EATING backyard birds that people and small poultry farmers raise: Birds like chickens, ducks (esp. Pekin ducks), turkey, geese, guinea fowl, and others. Many of these originated from large hatcheries who sent them to small retailers. While the CDC has linked these to 5 hatcheries they do not name them which is traditional for the CDC when things like this happen
And you can also catch Salmonella from TOUCHING a store-bought raw chicken (see how to handle chicken below)!. How do backyard birds catch Salmonella? How chickens get Salmonella (not from people):
Chickens pick up Salmonella from various sources:
The hatchery they came from
Their parents (vertical transmission)
Contaminated feed
Wild birds
Rodents
Soil or water
Their own flock mates
Note: These animals rarely appear sick.
The Eggshell Outbreak → The Salmonella outbreak in eggs found in grocery and retail stores. This multistate outbreak is linked to eggshells. You can get Salmonella from an egg whose shell is contaminated, but it depends on how the egg is handled and cooked. The shell itself is one of the most common contamination points, but contamination becomes a risk only if the bacteria enters the egg or survives cooking.
Cases of eggshell Salmonella have been tracked retrospectively to Nov 21, 2025, but tracing did not begin until June 2026.
There are several ways eggs can pick up Salmonella: They can get contaminated with Salmonella from the environment or from handlers. Another unusual way eggs can become contaminated is through the bird's contaminated ovaries. Salmonella settles inside the egg before the shell forms. In the latter case, the inside of the egg becomes contaminated with Salmonella. Moreover, if eggs are in a moist environment, bacteria can also enter through the egg's porous surface. In any case, there have been many egg recalls (at least a million) due to Salmonella recently.
Moringa Outbreak → Moringa is a plant substance that comes from Moringa oleifera, a fast‑growing tree native to the Indian subcontinent and also grown in tropical and subtropical climates. Consumers use moringa as a supplement to support energy, inflammation, blood sugar, and general wellness. The CDC, FDA, and multiple state departments were instrumental in tracing Salmonella contamination to dried botanical material from a manufacturing plant in India. The moringa powder had been exported from India to multiple US supplement manufacturers for packaging, sales, and distribution.
Turtle Handling outbreak-----> Almost all cases have been seen in young kids who handle(d) pet turtles. We see Salmonella contamination a lot in small pet turtles, which naturally carry Salmonella. Because of this, sales have been made illegal in the US, but somehow people still manage to get them anyway because they think they are "cute."
How Many People Have Been Affected by Salmonella in 2026? (These will change from source to source and day to day)
Jalapeño-related cases of Salmonella:
The jalapeño‑linked Salmonella outbreak currently stands at 345 reported illnesses, 36 hospitalizations, and 0 deaths. August 14, 2026 (1)
Backyard birds Salmonella Outbreak-
The newest backyard‑poultry Salmonella numbers are 814 illnesses, 201 hospitalizations, and one death — from the CDC’s July 27, 2026 update. No newer data has been published, and this has been rapidly escalating. The CDC reporting tends to lag behind the local health departments' reporting. For more up-to-date information for your state, you can check your local public health department.
The Eggshell Salmonella Outbreak-
98 Illnesses: 98; 26 Hospitalizations; no reported deaths
Moringa Related Salmonella Cases-
Turtle Related Salmonella Cases:
8 illnesses. 3 hospitalizations and 0 deaths.
Where Are These Cases of Salmonella Occurring?
Jalapeno-related cases of Salmonella and recall states:
he jalapeño‑related Salmonella cases are spread across 27 U.S. states, and the contaminated peppers were served at Mexican‑style restaurants (Chipotle, QDOBA) and sold through major retailers via downstream recalls.
Jalapeño‑related Salmonella illnesses By State (27 states)
CDC confirms illnesses in 27 states.
distribution lists show where contaminated jalapeños and jalapeño‑containing products were shipped. These states include:
Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Recalls: See this link for jalapeño recalls: FDA recalls. This also includes restaurants: QDOBA and Chipotle, which have reportedly removed these products.
Poultry Salmonella Illnesses By State in 2026 (44 states)
Illness by state: No distribution- calculated by isolated cases reported in each state: CDC confirms in all states and Puerto Rico except: Alaska, Hawaii, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island
Recalls: No recalls-Hatcheries like are not required to recall birds
Birds are not removed from stores
Hatcheries are not named publicly
Birds continue shipping during the outbreak
Eggshell Salmonella Illnesses by State in 2026
Illness by state:
States with confirmed illnesses (17 states)(2)
Texas
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Arkansas
Mississippi
New Mexico
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Missouri
Nebraska
Ohio
South Carolina
Tennessee
Recalls: FDA and CDC confirm that Midwest Poultry Services L.P has recalled 1,589,577 dozen eggs (≈19 million eggs)due to Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. These include egg types included White shell eggs and brown cage‑free shell eggs
Sizes: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 60‑count cartons
They were only recalled in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, where they were originally distributed. Eggs and egg products can cross state lines. Why just 3 states when outbreaks have occurred across the country? I had to ask AI about this because it was perplexing. They explained that eggs and egg products can cross state lines in many ways 😯❓. Those are a LOT of eggs and products crossing state lines.
Some of the store named in the recall: Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Country Morning, Cal‑Maine Sunups
These eggs were produced: June 6 → July 3, 2026 and have Sell/Best‑by dates: July 20 → August 17, 2026
Moringa Salmonella by State
many mail order but not all:
MOGO-brand moringa (34 illnesses)
Most of these were purchased online, because MOGO primarily sells through:
Amazon
direct website orders
smaller supplement e‑commerce sites
Recalls: Recalled lots:
Lot 15525AA – EXP 06/2027
Lot 00926AA – EXP 01/2028
Rosabella-brand moringa (10 illnesses)
This one is different. More bought in-store
Rosabella capsules were sold through:
local herbal shops
small ethnic grocery stores
in‑person supplement retailers
some online sellers, but not primarily
Recalls: Rosabella recalled many lots, but not all Rosabella products.
Recalled lots include dozens of SKUs ending in -1 or -2, with expiration dates from 03/2027 to 07/2027.
Rosabella confirmed:
Products were sold nationwide
Through their website, TikTok Shop, and some unauthorized third‑party sellers
Symptoms of Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacterial infection causing diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually appear 4–7 days after exposure but can be longer
Salmonella symptoms usually start 6 hours–6 days after exposure and most often involve the intestinal tract. Because this is a medical topic, it’s important to check with a healthcare professional if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening.
Here’s the clear, evidence‑based symptom list grounded in CDC and Mayo Clinic sources.
Key symptoms (CDC + Mayo Clinic)
Most people experience:
Watery diarrhea (may contain blood or mucus)
Stomach cramps (often severe)
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Chills
Loss of appetite
Symptoms typically last 4–7 days, though diarrhea can persist longer.
Who is at highest risk (children, older adults, pregnant people, immunocompromised)
Tx Sx
LINK
General self-care
When to seek a healthcare provider
Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 2 days
Bloody stool
Fever over 102°F
Signs of dehydration
6. What To Do If Exposed or Symptomatic
Home care guidance
Red‑flag symptoms that require urgent attention
Example: “Seek care if symptoms last more than 3 days, or if you develop dehydration or high fever.”
Prevention-9. How to Prevent Infection
You don’t need to eat it raw — just handling it can expose you if you touch your mouth, face, or other foods afterward.
This is why:
washing hands
cleaning surfaces
keeping raw chicken separate
cooking to 165°F
Cooking kills Salmonella — but only if the egg is fully cooked
If you fully cook the egg (yolk and white firm), Salmonella dies.
Risk increases if you eat:
runny yolks
soft‑scrambled eggs
sunny‑side‑up eggs
raw batter
homemade mayo or aioli
smoothies with raw eggs
Food safety steps
Hygiene
Avoiding specific products or locations
Protective measures (PPE, mosquito control, etc.)
Example: “Wash produce thoroughly and avoid recalled items.”
8. Official Recommendations
CDC, FDA, WHO, or local health department guidance
Product disposal instructions
Travel advisories
Testing or vaccination info (if applicable)
Example: “The FDA advises discarding all affected lots and sanitizing surfaces.”
Testing
Salmonella is tested using stool samples, PCR panels, and bacterial cultures. Public health labs then do serotyping and whole‑genome sequencing to determine whether a case is part of an outbreak.
Treatment
More antibiotic‑resistant strains
CDC reports resistance in several 2026 strains:
Fosfomycin resistance in Saintpaul strains
Additional resistance to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, tetracycline in multiple samples
10. Quick Summary Box (Optional)
A short, scannable recap for readers.
Example:
Pathogen: Salmonella
Source: Recalled produce
States affected: 12
Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, cramps
Action: Discard recalled items; seek care if severe symptoms occur
can any turn into a person to person utbreakWhat abut my chickens?
What if they mutate? Antibiotic resistance
Infantis and Typhimurium ST34 already carry large resistance plasmids.
Environmental survival
Some strains mutate to survive longer in barns, soil, or water.
Virulence changes
Some serotypes gain genes that increase severity or invasiveness.
Host range expansion-could see more of it
The strains circulating in humans right now do not jump into backyard flocks.
Subtypes
