Jalapeño peppers tied to a multistate salmonella outbreak have been traced to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, according to federal officials.

At least 345 people across 27 states have fallen ill from the salmonella strain associated with the jalapeños, with the majority of cases concentrated in Minnesota and Colorado. No deaths have been reported, though 36 individuals have required hospitalization.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday that the chili peppers were imported into the United States by Coast Citrus Distributors. The company has since initiated a recall of the affected peppers and is alerting its customers, which include several prominent Mexican-style restaurant chains. The outbreak illustrates how contamination at a single grower can cascade through competing restaurant brands that share common produce suppliers.

Coast Citrus Distributors did not immediately respond to a request for comment left via voicemail on Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that of the 191 individuals interviewed during the outbreak investigation, 177 — approximately 93% — indicated they had dined at a Mexican-style restaurant, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, between June 14 and July 14.

Chipotle stated Tuesday that it had removed jalapeños from select locations. Qdoba followed on Wednesday, announcing that it had proactively removed jalapeños from all of its restaurants.

"Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak," CDC officials said in a statement.

The FDA is continuing to investigate whether any of the affected jalapeños were distributed to grocery stores and may announce further actions via its recalls webpage. Whether the recall expands to retail grocery channels is a key development to monitor, as it would broaden the potential exposure well beyond restaurant patrons.

Mexican health authorities confirmed they have opened an investigation and conducted a field visit Thursday to a packing facility in the northern state of Nuevo León.

According to the CDC, salmonella bacteria are responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections in the United States each year. Previous outbreaks have been linked to a range of sources, including cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurized milk, fresh basil, geckos, and pet bearded dragons.

Individuals exposed to the bacteria may develop symptoms — including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps — within hours or days. The illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without medical treatment. Young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of more severe illness.

Shares of Chipotle, headquartered in Newport Beach, California, fell nearly 10% on Tuesday and have not recovered since. The burrito chain, like other fast-casual operators, has experienced declining foot traffic from middle- and lower-income customers amid broader inflationary pressures, and headlines surrounding foodborne illness outbreaks may compound those challenges. Investor sensitivity to such news also reflects Chipotle's well-documented history with food safety incidents, including a series of E. coli and norovirus outbreaks in 2015 that prompted a sweeping overhaul of its food safety protocols.

Associated Press reporter Fabiola Sanchez in Mexico City contributed to this story.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.