CDC Declares Salmonella Outbreak Over After 1,400 Sickened

ATLANTA - The largest salmonella outbreak in a decade is officially over, federal health officials said Thursday, closing a frustrating investigation that first blamed tomatoes, then pivoted to Mexican peppers after 1,442 people fell ill.

The outbreak, which began in April, sickened people in 43 states and may have contributed to two deaths. Investigators ultimately traced the strain to jalapeño and serrano peppers grown in Mexico and processed at a Texas plant.

The early focus on tomatoes — later abandoned — cost growers an estimated $100 million as restaurants pulled them from menus and supermarkets stripped shelves. Tomato growers have demanded an apology; some have talked of suing.

"We did the best we could with the information we had," a CDC official said. "Outbreak detective work looks clean in hindsight. It never is at the time."

The episode has renewed calls in Congress for a stronger food-safety system, including mandatory recall authority and better traceability from farm to table — proposals the industry has resisted for years.

Officials said consumers can resume eating all produce without restriction.

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Associated Press writers contributed to this report.

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