GA Department of Agriculture Declares State Grown Peppers, Tomatoes Safe

Last month the Food and Drug Administration found a salmonella strain in jalapeno peppers distributed in Texas and Georgia.

Agricola Zaragoza, Inc., a distributer located in McAllen, Texas, is recalling jalapeno peppers distributed in Georgia and Texas since June 30 because they could be contaminated with Salmonella Saintpaul. The FDA says this strain is responsible for the current outbreak.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is advising consumers that Georgia grown peppers are still safe.

“What we know at this time is that the peppers were shipped in 35-pound plastic crates and 50-pound bags. Commercial manufacturers could have used them as an ingredient in other products, and restaurants and retail stores could have used them as a garnish or as an ingredient in a product prepared on site,” said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin. “No brand name or label was on either the crates or the bags.”



Irvin advises consumers to ask their suppliers where their peppers were grown.


“We grow several varieties of sweet and hot peppers here in Georgia. Some of our tomato farmers also grow peppers,” said Irvin.

According to Irvin, no Georgia peppers were implicated in this recall, but to assure the consuming public that Georgia grown peppers are safe, he has instructed the Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Protection staff to test some jalapeno peppers from Georgia fields.

“Even though Georgia grown tomatoes were declared safe from the beginning of the outbreak, the public stopped buying tomatoes and the growers had tomatoes ruin in the field. We don’t want to see that happen to Georgia grown peppers,” Irvin said.

Department of agriculture inspectors are looking for the recalled jalapeno peppers when they visit retail and wholesale food establishments. Irvin advises that any recalled peppers, or products containing them should be thrown away.