Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on August 5, 2026
Health officials have seen a significant uptick of Salmonella in Colorado and are warning residents to be aware of symptoms. A similar situation is happening in Minnesota, as an outbreak investigation is underway.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are working closely with local public health agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health partners in other states to understand this recent rise of Salmonella in California.
How many people are sick and are these illnesses connected? What is making Coloradans sick?
A recent Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment press release dated July 28, 2026 was published to alert Coloradans to “a significant increase in Salmonella cases and asking people to be aware of the symptoms.”
According to the statement, more than 250 cases of Salmonella in Colorado have been reported since July 1, 2026. On an average year (based on 5-year data), Colorado sees around 125 cases during the month of July.
The state is experiencing twice as many cases in the same period.
There are a lot of illnesses. But are they connected to each other?
The Colorado Public Health Laboratory “has advanced foodborne illness surveillance capacity” and is currently working to answer that important question.
This lab can perform a specialized test known as whole genome sequencing, which can compare the genetic fingerprints of Salmonella bacteria in clinical cases to each other and potential food sources. This helps public health officials connect cases across the state and even the country.
As it turns out, not only could these cases be connected within the state. They could be related to cases in other states.
While more information is needed to officially connect these Colorado cases to ones in Minnesota, news chatter has already made some connections.
An outbreak involving 110 people with Salmonella Javiana infections is currently under investigation in Minnesota. This outbreak has a strong connection to Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. However, other “Mexican-style quick-service” restaurants have been implicated as well. Leading investigators to a potential ingredient-level source of jalapeños.
While this information is not yet confirmed, the outbreak of Salmonella in Colorado may be connected to a national outbreak investigation currently underway by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Initial reports included 106 Salmonella Javiana illnesses on July 22, 2026. Recently, this number rose to 212. Today, another 109 cases have been added for a total of 321 confirmed illnesses.
The FDA still has the source of the outbreak listed as “not yet identified.” However, sampling activities have begun.
Hopefully this means that the source will be identified soon.
For now, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says that “Federal investigators have not confirmed a specific food, restaurant, supplier, or other source.”
So, what are some potential sources if it turns out that jalapeños are not what is causing these illnesses? For that, let’s take a look at previous Salmonella outbreaks.
In the past, Salmonella illnesses have been associated with poultry, eggs, beef, and certain vegetables. These foods are more likely than others to be at risk for Salmonella. But any food, through cross-contamination or lapses in food safety practices, could theoretically be the source of Salmonella in Colorado.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to:
All of these products have been linked to Salmonella outbreaks since 2024.
Salmonella is a microscopic germ responsible for salmonellosis illness.
The CDC estimates that Salmonella bacteria are responsible for around 1.35 million infections in the United States each year. Of those, around 26,500 people experience illnesses severe enough to require hospitalization. About 420 of those patients die from infection.
Food is the most common source of these salmonellosis illnesses.
If you have recently experienced gastrointestinal illness, you may be wondering if your symptoms are from a Salmonella infection.
Only specialized laboratory tests can determine if your illness is caused by Salmonella bacteria. Reach out to your healthcare provider for more information. However, you can compare your symptoms to what people commonly experience with these illnesses.
Common symptoms include:
Most people experience symptoms in as little as six hours and up to six days after exposure. In some cases, illness onset could be much longer.
Severity and length of illness often vary from person to person. Most people experience mild illnesses that pass quickly. Others may experience severe illness lasting weeks or even months after initial symptoms.
Most people, however, feel better within a week (four to seven days).
Certain groups of people have conditions or susceptibilities that make them more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those more vulnerable to Salmonella infection include:
Those more likely to experience sever symptoms include:
While most people do not need medical intervention and are not prescribed antibiotic treatment, those in the higher risk group are more likely to receive treatment.
Most of the time Salmonella bacteria are limited to the intestinal tract. However, in some cases, the bacteria can breach the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream capillaries and veins found there. When this happens, bacteria may infect the urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and even the nervous system.
Common Salmonella complications include reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and bacteremia that can affect other parts of the body.
If you have been impacted by Salmonella in Colorado, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Salmonella Lawyer that can help.
Medical bills, lost wages, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness add up. The Lange Law Firm helps hold those responsible for foodborne illness accountable.
Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your situation with you to help determine if you have a legal case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)