Officials: Don’t eat fresh jalapenos

SANTA FE (AP) — The state environment and health departments are encouraging New Mexicans to follow the advice of federal officials: Refrain from eating fresh jalapenos.
Officials point to a link between peppers and the salmonella outbreak.

Government inspectors have found the same bacteria strain on a single Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper handled in Texas. But they don’t know where the pepper became tainted — on the farm, or in a Texas plant, or at some stop in between.

New Mexico Environment Secretary Ron Curry says the state will closely monitor any effects of jalapenos related to Monday’s news.

New Mexico health officials are investigating 107 cases of salmonella in 19 counties.