Jalapeño, Guacamole and Salsa Recall: What to Check in Your Fridge

Check your refrigerator before serving guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa or taco dip. Taylor Fresh Foods has recalled multiple prepared foods containing jalapeños because the peppers may be contaminated with Salmonella. The action is connected to a multistate outbreak investigation involving jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors.

What to do now: Look for refrigerated products containing jalapeños with “Best If Used By” dates through August 16, 2026. If the product matches a recall notice—or you cannot confidently identify it—do not taste it. Discard it safely or return it to the store.

What products are involved?

The recall covers a range of ready-to-eat foods made with jalapeños. Reported categories include:

• Fresh guacamole
• Spicy guacamole
• Pico de gallo
• Salsa fresca and salsa roja
• Mango or pineapple-mango salsa
• Taco dip and layered dips
• Some prepared salads or meals containing jalapeños

Affected products were distributed in multiple states and sold through major retailers including Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Walmart. This does not mean every jalapeño product at those stores is recalled. Product names, package sizes, UPC codes, dates and distribution states vary by retailer.

A five-minute refrigerator check

1. Gather likely products. Check the deli and refrigerated sections of your refrigerator for salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, taco dip and prepared foods containing fresh jalapeños.
2. Find the date and product code. Look around the lid, side label or package seam for “Best If Used By,” UPC and lot information.
3. Check dates through August 16, 2026. A date in this range does not automatically prove a product is recalled, but it means you should compare the package with the retailer or official recall notice.
4. Do not use appearance or smell as a test. Food contaminated with Salmonella may look and smell normal.
5. When in doubt, do not eat it. Take a photo of the package and code, place it in a sealed bag, and return it for a refund or discard it where children and animals cannot reach it.

Do not simply remove the jalapeños

Removing visible pepper pieces does not make a recalled salsa or dip safe. Juices and utensils can spread bacteria throughout the container. Cooking a recalled prepared product is also not a recommended workaround. The safest action is to follow the recall instructions and dispose of or return the entire product.

Clean the areas the product touched

If an affected container leaked or was opened, take a few extra minutes to prevent cross-contamination:

1. Place the product and any disposable towels used for cleanup in a sealed bag.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
3. Wash refrigerator shelves, drawers, countertops, knives and containers with hot soapy water.
4. Use a dishwasher for dishwasher-safe items.
5. Wash reusable grocery bags if the package leaked inside them.
6. Keep ready-to-eat foods separate from the area until cleanup is complete.

Salmonella symptoms to watch for

Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Nausea, vomiting, headache or loss of appetite can also occur. Symptoms generally begin 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and usually last 4 to 7 days.

Contact a healthcare professional if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, stool or urine is bloody, fever rises above 102°F, or signs of dehydration develop. Warning signs of dehydration include very dark or little urine, strong thirst, dry mouth, dizziness or lightheadedness.

Extra caution for older adults: Adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of serious foodborne illness. Anyone in a higher-risk group who develops symptoms after eating a potentially recalled product should contact a healthcare professional promptly and mention the possible exposure.

What if you already ate the product?

Do not panic. Not everyone exposed becomes ill, and the recall notice stated that Taylor Fresh Foods was not aware of illnesses specifically linked to its recalled prepared products at the time of the announcement. Monitor how you feel during the following six days. Stay hydrated if mild gastrointestinal symptoms occur, and seek medical advice for severe symptoms or if you belong to a higher-risk group.

Keep a photo of the label, UPC, lot code and date. This information can help a store process a refund and may be useful if a healthcare professional or health department asks what you ate.

How large is the related outbreak?

Federal investigators traced jalapeños associated with the broader outbreak to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and Coast Citrus Distributors. At least 345 illnesses in 27 states and 36 hospitalizations had been reported in the investigation, with no deaths reported at that point. The prepared-food recall is a precautionary response within that larger supply-chain investigation.

Bottom line

If you recently bought refrigerated salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo or taco dip, check the package today. Match the exact product, UPC and “Best If Used By” date against the notice from your retailer or the official recall information. Do not taste food to decide whether it is safe, and clean any surface that may have touched a leaking or opened container.

This article reflects information available on August 11, 2026, and provides general food-safety information rather than medical advice. Recall lists can expand as an investigation continues.