FDA upgrades recall on Whole Foods guacamole to highest threat level

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: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 outbr...