Texas-based Grocery Chain Issues Jalapeno Recall

Grocery chain H-E-B has announced a voluntary recall of products containing fresh jalapenos after government inspectors found a strain of salmonella on a single Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper handled in Texas.

The recall was announced Monday and includes fresh jalapenos, fresh pico de gallo and prepared items containing raw jalapenos. The recall does not include canned, cooked or pickled jalapenos.

San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Co. says no customers have reported illness and the recall is precautionary. The privately held grocer operates more than 300 stores in Texas and Mexico.

The Texas plant, Agricola Zaragoza, has suspended sales of fresh jalapenos and recalled those shipped since June 30, shipments it said were made to Georgia and Texas.

A salmonella outbreak, originally linked to tomatoes, has sickened more than 1,200 people in 43 states. The last reported illness was July 4.