Over 100 individuals have fallen ill due to a potentially dangerous bacterial infection traced to jalapeños from Chipotle, raising alarms among health officials.

Authorities in Minnesota have identified 110 cases of salmonella connected to Mexican-style fast-food outlets, though specifics regarding hospitalizations remain undisclosed.

During the investigation, officials pinpointed jalapeños as the likely culprit. Interviews with 84 affected individuals revealed that a significant 90 percent had consumed the peppers at Chipotle or other eateries before their symptoms began.

Experts caution that the actual number of infections might be significantly underreported, as many who contract the bacteria go untested.

The FDA launched an official inquiry on July 22, shortly after the initial cases emerged among patrons of Chipotle and similar establishments.

The restaurant chain also began reviewing its supply chain that day to find the source.

It was not clear whether Chipotle branches in other states were affected, but Minnesota health officials said they were in contact with counterparts elsewhere. The jalapeños linked to the sickness were also served at other restaurants.

It comes amid a major outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the US which has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms that was sold at Taco Bell and other stores. More than 15 states have now been linked to this outbreak, which has sickened thousands. 

Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, told the Daily Mail: ‘We have a robust ingredient traceability system and, upon learning of a potential Salmonella outbreak in the supply chain impacting several food service retailers, we proactively identified jalapeños as a potential common ingredient from a common lot.

‘We removed them from the restaurants where they had been distributed, and replaced them with product from different growers.’

Salmonella is primarily spread by consuming foods or drinks contaminated with the bacteria. 

Healthy people infected with salmonella often suffer from fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, which clears within a few days. In serious cases, however, patients can suffer from potentially fatal complications including sepsis.

Health officials warn very young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk from salmonella infections.

In a statement, the Minnesota Department of Health said it was no longer concerned about further infections triggered by Chipotle, saying the jalapeños had been pulled from shelves, but warned they may still be in other restaurants.

Carlota Medus, a senior epidemiologist at the department, said: ‘Chipotle has fully collaborated on every aspect of this investigation; ranging from providing records and information about the foods they receive at their restaurants, as well as implementing mitigation steps right away to prevent further transmission.

‘It is too soon for us to know if the outbreak is ongoing. Given the measures Chipotle put in place, we are not concerned about Chipotle.

‘But it is possible that the outbreak is ongoing if the contaminated food item is being served elsewhere.’

She added: ‘We do expect the case count to increase even if the illnesses occurred a couple of weeks ago, since it takes us a while to detect cases in surveillance.’ 

It was not clear what caused the outbreak, but jalapeños can be contaminated with bacteria if they are irrigated with water contaminated with animal feces.

The FDA registered the outbreak on its website on July 22.

Chipotle has faced a series of severe E coli, salmonella and norovirus outbreaks across multiple US states dating back to 2015.  

In August 2018, 624 people fell sick with severe stomach problems after eating at just one Chipotle restaurant in Ohio. Patients were infected with Clostridium perfringens, a common cause of food poisoning in the US.

Another 200 people were sickened during a norovirus outbreak at a California restaurant in 2015, before 133 fell ill with the same disease at a Virginia outlet in 2017. 

In 2020, the company paid a $25 million fine to settle criminal charges linked to outbreaks that sickened more than 1,100 people. The case involved food-safety failures, not a contaminated ingredient.

Salmonella is most common in poultry, red meat, dairy products, eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables.

The bacterium infects 1.3 million Americans every year. Most people recover within days, though the illness is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.

Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unlike most bacteria, once consumed, some strains of salmonella can survive the stomach acid and travel into the intestines.

Once there, they burrow into the cells lining the organ, causing inflammation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs.

People can catch salmonella after eating contaminated food, drinking fluids laced with the bacteria or touching the droppings of infected animals.

People can also catch salmonella from others via touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces of a sick patient.

Symptoms are triggered within six hours to six days of infection, with patients told to call their doctor if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, if they notice blood in their urine or feces, develop a high fever or show signs of dehydration.

In a dramatic turn of events, a high-ranking New York police official faces serious allegations of involvement in a gang-related shooting. The New York Post unveiled Tuesday that this official, allegedly operating as the getaway driver, ferried her son away from the scene in a controversial incident that has raised eyebrows across the city.

According to insider sources cited by the Post, Jennifer Lackard, who holds the position of deputy police commissioner with the Mount Vernon Police Department, was taken into custody alongside her 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard. The duo was detained at their residence early Tuesday. Chase is accused of firing shots at rival gang members outside the Bronx Criminal Court in an incident dating back to late June.

Post-reporting details reveal that following the discharge of firearms, Chase allegedly dashed towards his mother’s vehicle, at which point she accelerated away from the scene.

Fortunately, this audacious shooting incident did not result in any injuries, averting a potentially tragic outcome.

Both the mother and son have been charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.

The Mount Vernon Police Department said Tuesday that Lackard had been terminated effectively immediately.

“The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and do not stem from any conduct associated with the Department or the performance of her official responsibilities,” the department wrote on social media.

The incident was far from Chase’s first run-in with law enforcement. He was shot by police in 2024 after allegedly wielding a gun during an argument.

He was also shot once before in 2023 by three other youths during a dispute on a bus. Chase is allegedly a member of the “Slutty Gang,” according to the Post.

He reportedly demanded to know what gang the other youths belonged to and then attempted to drag one of them off the bus before being shot in the chest.

A man from Northern California, an alumnus of Antelope High School, has been gravely injured after bravely confronting a shooter during the tragic mass shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Idaho, as reported by his family.

Austin James, who once served as a police officer in Twin Falls and graduated from Antelope High, was caught in the chaos of the incident while waiting in the drive-thru lane of the restaurant with his wife, according to KCRA’s interview with his father.

Choosing courage over self-preservation, James made a valiant attempt to stop the shooter, running directly toward the danger. Unfortunately, he was shot in the arm, sustaining severe injuries.

His wife, an emergency room nurse, promptly rushed to his side to administer aid and then facilitated his transport to a hospital nearby, his father described.

James not only made his mark at Antelope High, participating in volleyball, but also pursued higher education at Brigham Young University.

The shooting left three people dead and seven others injured, including James, authorities said. Police identified the gunman as 24-year-old Chad Williams, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack. Investigators believe he acted alone and have not announced a motive.

Among those killed was Ashley Garibay, a Stockton-based In-N-Out manager who had traveled to the company’s newly opened Twin Falls restaurant to help train employees. Her family confirmed her identity to KCRA. Garibay worked at the In-NOut location on March Lane in Stockton.

As of Sunday afternoon, authorities said two victims remained in critical condition, while three others were listed in stable condition. Two additional victims had been treated and released from the hospital.

Reports indicate that health authorities have now broadened the scope of a gastrointestinal parasite outbreak tied to shredded lettuce, encompassing 15 different states. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outbreak of cyclosporiasis has extended into six additional states, as highlighted by the Washington Post, citing information provided by three informed individuals.

Missouri joins the ranks of newly impacted areas, reporting an incidence of 1,095 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis. The specific names of the additional five states have not yet been disclosed. 

This development highlights a major expansion of the outbreak, which has been traced back to shredded iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms, featured in Taco Bell and other retail outlets.

In the latest update, health officials noted that the outbreak has afflicted at least 1,947 individuals, with 98 requiring hospitalization. The organization is anticipated to release updated statistics within the week.

Yesterday, the first deaths linked to the outbreak were reported in Michigan after two people who had underlying conditions died after contracting the parasite. 

Nationwide, more than 18,000 cases of cyclosporiasis across 45 states have been recorded so far this year. Not all cases have been linked to the Taylor Farms shredded lettuce recall.

There is a reporting delay between local and federal data, which means CDC numbers are often behind those from state health departments. 

Health officials have previously linked shredded iceberg lettuce sold by Taylor Farms and served at Taco Bell and other stores to the major outbreak.

Taylor Farms has recalled the lettuce and shut down production at its facility in Mexico that was linked to the outbreak. But tests on the lettuce have so far returned a false positive. 

Last week, the CDC linked nine states to the outbreak of the parasite.

These were Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Michigan is at the center of the outbreak that has gripped the US, with more than 11,500 cases and 193 hospitalizations now recorded in the state. It has also registered two deaths.

This is more than double the number in the state with the second-highest number, Ohio, which has reported 4,000 cases to date.

In Michigan, health authorities say they are probing lettuce and salad greens as potential sources of the outbreak, but warn that other food items cannot be ruled out.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite cyclospora, which is spread by consuming food or water contaminated with human feces. 

Patients develop symptoms within a week of being infected, suffering from ‘explosive’ diarrhea, abdominal cramps and vomiting. 

The disease takes about one to two weeks to clear and is normally not fatal. In serious cases, however, it can trigger life-threatening dehydration.

In their update yesterday, officials at the Michigan Department of Health said the two deaths were recorded in patients who had underlying health conditions. No further information was revealed.

Nationwide, health officials are tracking six outbreaks of cyclosporiasis.

The separate outbreaks may not necessarily be unrelated, but health officials normally separate cases if they believe they have been triggered by a different source.

In North Carolina, health officials are tracking a separate outbreak which they said may be linked to lettuce, parsley or cilantro. 

The state has recorded 718 cases of the parasite to date and 24 hospitalizations.

Court documents reveal that the man suspected of igniting the largest wildfire that has ravaged hundreds of structures and displaced thousands in eastern Washington previously faced a first-degree murder charge. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.

Aaron F. Farinacci, age 37, was taken into custody on Monday. He is accused of first-degree arson related to the Old Trails Fire, a major blaze engulfing the region around Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city.

These wildfires have resulted in the destruction of at least 700 buildings, forcing around 67,000 residents to flee. Investigators have not linked Farinacci to the other two ongoing fires, which are still under investigation.

Farinacci’s arrest coincided with statements from Washington Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, who underscored the role of climate change as firefighters contended with the region’s devastating fires.

“Climate change isn’t some existential global thing,” Inslee said Monday. “It’s our neighbors. It’s our friends.”

Court records reviewed by News Media show Farinacci was initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in a 2010 Arizona homicide before pleading guilty in 2012 to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault.

The Associated Press reported that Farinacci, then 21, fatally shot his father during an argument over washing dishes in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010. Farinacci also shot himself but survived.

A Maricopa County judge sentenced Farinacci to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault. Arizona Department of Corrections records show he was released on Dec. 23, 2020.

Less than six years after his release from prison, Farinacci again found himself accused of a major crime.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Major Crimes detectives and Washington State Department of Natural Resources fire investigators identified Farinacci as the suspect after developing probable cause during the investigation.

Detectives obtained arrest and search warrants before taking Farinacci into custody without incident at his Spokane residence, where he was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said witnesses reported seeing a man – later identified as Farinacci – acting suspiciously near where the fire started. After returning home and noticing smoke rising from the same area, they flagged down an Airway Heights police officer and provided investigators with a physical description of the man and the clothing he was wearing.

Deputies initially detained and questioned Farinacci before releasing him as first responders focused on evacuating residents threatened by the rapidly growing fire, Nowels said.

As detectives reviewed witness statements, body camera footage and evidence gathered with fire investigators, they developed probable cause to arrest Farinacci.

When deputies first contacted Farinacci, he was carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter, investigators said. Fire investigators later determined the blaze was consistent with dry grass being ignited by a match or lighter.

Nowels said the first-degree arson charge reflected the evidence investigators currently have but cautioned that additional charges could be considered as the investigation continues and authorities assess the full scope of the fire’s destruction.

The sheriff credited observant residents with helping investigators quickly identify the suspect.

“As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the relatively quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci,” Nowels said.

LOS ANGELES — A report released Tuesday confirmed that the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire, which resulted in numerous fatalities and widespread destruction, was ignited by Southern California Edison equipment.

The blaze tragically took the lives of 19 individuals and caused extensive damage to over 9,000 locations, both residential and commercial. Los Angeles County Fire officials pinpointed the origin to an inactive tower.

“After conducting an 18-month comprehensive investigation, which involved the expertise of electrical and metallurgical specialists, we determined that electrical arcing events at the non-operational Southern California Edison (SCE) tower triggered the wildfire,” the agency detailed in their statement.

The relentless fire took firefighters almost a month to fully contain, leaving a charred landscape of 22 square miles in its wake.

Kathleen Dunleavy, a representative for Southern California Edison, acknowledged the receipt of the report and stated that the company is currently analyzing its contents.

“We have taken our potential role in the start of this fire seriously from the very beginning,” Dunleavy said. She said SCE previously acknowledged “it was likely our equipment was associated with the ignition of the Eaton Fire.”

She said the utility continues to support the community as it recovers.

SEE ALSO: A year after LA-area wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, fewer than a dozen have been rebuilt