Americans faced a series of food safety recalls in August after products ranging from frozen berries and pistachio butter to sprouts, jalapeños and mangoes were pulled from shelves over concerns they could be contaminated with bacteria linked to serious illness. A Newsweek analysis of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall notices published between July 30 and August 31 reveals the affected states across the United States through a combination of product distribution and reported outbreak cases, including several items linked to Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria contamination. Recalls varied in scale, with some limited to a handful of states, while others involved products sold nationwide through supermarkets or online retailers.
Several notices were connected to a wider Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers imported from Mexico. The period began with Publix recalling GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries over concerns they could be contaminated with E. coli, prompting the highest risk warning from the FDA. The products were distributed to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Investigators ultimately linked the outbreak to 12 illnesses, including 11 in Florida and one in Georgia. Just days later, Boticelli Foods recalled Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter after testing identified possible Salmonella contamination. No illnesses were reported in connection with that recall.
In a separate Salmonella-related incident, Everything Sprouts recalled alfalfa sprouts that were distributed to wholesalers and retailers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. An outbreak linked to those sprouts has been associated with illnesses in multiple states, including 21 reported cases in Minnesota and 17 in Wisconsin. Food To Live also recalled several green powder products, including moringa, kale and SuperGreens powders, because of possible Salmonella contamination.
The company said the products were sold nationwide through online marketplaces and direct-to-consumer sales. Toward the end of the month, Everything Sprouts recalled alfalfa sprouts and later expanded the recall to include Robust Radish Mix products because of concerns they could be contaminated with both Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The recalled sprouts were distributed to wholesalers and retailers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, while associated illnesses were reported in at least 15 states.
The largest recall event during the month stemmed from an outbreak investigation linked to jalapeño peppers supplied through Coast Citrus Distributors. Multiple companies recalled products containing the peppers, including salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, salad dressing and prepared foods sold through grocery chains and retailers. Taylor Fresh Foods said affected products were distributed to retail centers in 26 states stretching from Alabama and Florida to Wisconsin, New York and Vermont, while Whole Foods recalled products sold in 12 states across the Midwest and South.
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