California company recalls Jalapeno, Serrano peppers after Salmonella bacteria discovered in sample

A California company is issuing a recall on Jalapeno and Serrano chili peppers because they may by contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

According to a release from Cal Fresco LLC, the company is working with the Food and Drug Administration to coordinate a recall of its produce after the agency informed it a random sample had tested positive for the presence of the food-borne pathogen.

The recall from Cal Fresco includes more than 18,500 pounds of Jalapeno peppers. It is unknown what led to Salmonella contamination of this product. It was distributed by the company from Dec. 3-5 to wholesalers and retail locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Canada.

Ten and 25-pound cases of the jalapeno peppers included in the recall were shipped under the Cal Fresco label. Forty-pound cases were sold under the name Grower Alliance. These jalapeno peppers were available to consumers from Dec. 3 until Dec. 21, the company’s statement indicates.

Serrano peppers included in this recall were sold to a distribution warehouse in Spokane, Wash., on Dec. 8. They were further distributed to retail locations in  but no other details on the produce were available from the company’s statement.

Both peppers were sold in bulk, unpackaged fashion at retailers in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver, Canada, and Southern California, Alaska, Washington and Dallas, Texas.

There have been no reports of Salmonella poisoning associated with eating these allegedly contaminated peppers. Early signs of Salmonella poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.