Despite being cited as a source of the salmonella outbreak earlier this summer, jalapeno and Serrano peppers from Mexico are still turning up on store shelves. The peppers, which the FDA cited as the cause of the outbreak last month are frequently turning up on the shelves of many smaller grocery stores. The reason for this: the peppers, which are from Mexico, are the cheapest options and making them an enticing option for many small grocery owners.
A distributor quoted in this article says that he has been selling the peppers to grocery stores and restaurants all over. This is technically still allowed because the FDA has not actually banned the peppers, they have simply issued warnings about them. However, they have said that all peppers entering the country now are being tested more thoroughly for salmonella.
So in the mean time, make sure you are washing your jalapeno and Serrano peppers and cooking them before serving and eating them. Now that the source is know, it is important to take all necessary steps to avoid salmonella illness.
